STFI Recommendations to Accelerate Solar Process Heat in Dairies

Speaking at a workshop organized by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), RK Singh, Minister of power, New & Renewable Energy highlighted the need for creating an enabling and stable policy framework to further propagate usage of solar energy. Stressing on the need for utilizing the dairy cooperative network for the benefit of the farmers.

The Solar Thermal Federation of India (STFI) has issued the following recommendations for accelerating the use of solar thermal heating in dairies in India post the workshop held on 9th Jan.’19 that was addressed by Hon’ble Minister Shri Raj Kumar Singh and Secretary, MNRE Mr. Anand Kumar.

Constitute a working committee comprising of officials from NDDB, MNRE, STFI, IIT Mumbai. Shri Deepak Gupta to head the committee.

Study the existing 15 installations and identify the grey areas that need to be addressed.

Analyze the heat consumption of a sample large, medium and small dairies and identify the optimum Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) capacity that can be built.

Perform a detailed real-time financial feasibility of 12 months on the cost of heat energy incurred and justify the need for higher subsidy from Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Varying DNI at different locations is taken into account.

The subsidy is in two parts. First a nominal one-time and second performance-based thus ensure proper working of systems for at least 10 years.

Formulate a policy paper that will mandate a certain percentage of heat energy be met using solar thermal to create market demand. Capital subsidy to be the driver to inspire dairies as a comfort.

Explore the Energy Service Company (ESCO) concept that will become less burden for dairies to invest up-front.

Investigate the multilateral agencies that can fund under Climate Change programmes for solar rooftop project development mitigating greenhouse gases

Undertake 5 awareness workshops in 5 different locations with a high concentration of dairies to share the benefit of using CST. STFI will execute them and MNRE and manufacturers to sponsor.

Involve Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries and Ministry of Food Processing Industries in workshops.