India's power crisis deepens as policy issues eclipse rooftop solar

A streamlined policy could have helped save coal reserves, cut emissions & averted embarrassment of dealing with frequent power crises

India’s Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Bhagwanth Khuba launched a “Ghar Ke Upar Solar Is Super” — another of those catchily-named schemes that characterise the Narendra Modi government. It’s a nationwide rooftop solar awareness campaign with a promise to mobilise states, citizens and municipali­ties, and enable a major role for rooftop solar in the government’s renewable ambitions.

The awareness has come after eight years. The delay has cost India its first renewable target of 175 gigawatt (Gw) this year and put Modi’s 450 Gw “Panchamrit” renewable target at risk. India managed only 56 Gw of a 100-Gw