CEE Jan-Mar 2012

Renewable energy has come a long way in recent years and in few places more so than in India. It is not a commonly known fact that India has the fifth-largest installed wind power capacity in the world and I am often greeted with surprise when I tell an audience that we already have more installed wind power in India than we have nuclear. How did this come about? I believe that a big part of this is what has come to be known as 'frugal innovation'- we simply had to make the best of what we had. I am proud to say that Suzlon and our 'concept-to– commissioning' business model was a result of precisely this kind of innovation. And none of this would have been possible without another little known fact that India has one of the best renewable policy regimes in the world today. But this is only part of the answer. What truly distinguishes renewables, and particularly wind, from other energy sources is its footprint on the ground. Wind typically comes up in remote regions which till that time have had limited infrastructure, limiting opportunity and access to markets, ultimately creating the divide that has forced millions to migrate from villages to cities. What this translates to is our power grid reaching further than ever before, taking power to the most far-flung villages and communities, and providing the fuel for India's vibrant SME sector; every megawatt of new wind capacity adds 20 jobs, helping prevent necessity driven migration from rural to urban FORM- IV (See Rule 8) areas, and at the macro– economic level this means savings of thousands of crores of rupees in fuel imports. It may sound idyllic but it's true and it's already happening today. India has an installed base 14,000 MW of wind, off– setting 25 million tonnes of C02 emissions annually and with a total estimated potential of 1 ,OO,OOOMW. There is an enormous opportunities before us. Ultimately, it is not about numbers. It is about the people. I think it is time that we embrace such opportunities and steer a new, sustainable path of development for India, and the world. Courtesy: The Financial Express, 19 1 h Dec. 2011 , P7 Statement of ownership and other particulars of "Cement, Ene1gy and Environment" journal as required under Rule 8 of Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rul es, 1956. I. Place of publication New Delhi 2. Periodicity of publication 3. Printer's Name 4. Whether citizen of India (If foreigner, state the country of origin) Address 5. Editor's Name Whether citizen of India (If foreigner, state the country of origin ) Address 6. Name and addresses of individuals who own the periodical and partners or shareholders holding more than I% of the total capital Quarterl y Hari sh Panchal Yes Cement Manufacturers' Association 2142-47 Vishnu Kiran Chamber Gurudwara Road Karol Bagh New Delhi- II 0005. Shri N.A. Viswanathan Yes Same as in 4 above Cement Manufacturers' Association 2142-47 Vishnu Kiran Chamber Gurudwara Road, Karol Bagh New Delhi - 110 005. I, Harish Panchal, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. New Delhi 31 ' 1 March, 20 12 Sd/– Harish Panchal Publisher . 59