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From the article: “Of course there are challenges of 24/7 power. We accept all of that – but we have been able to come up with a solar-based long term vision th

From the article: “Of course there are challenges of 24/7 power. We accept all of that – but we have been able to come up with a solar-based long term vision that is not subsidy based.” Headline is not possible at face value except that it is.

forrestthewoods 10y ago
As best I can tell India's government is currently spending billions of dollars on solar. Maybe it will some day not be subsidy based. But as best I can tell it currently is. In fact the government appears to be spending one hundred billion dollars on solar in the next six years. By 2022. Furthermore, "The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy provides 70 percent subsidy on the installation cost of a solar photovoltaic power plant in North-East states and 30 percentage subsidy on other regions." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India I'm all for renewable energy. Solar is great. At this point I don't see how the headline isn't clickbait bullshit.
- TheLogothete 10y ago
  Why is this guy getting downvoted? There are multiple people saying "sounds too good to be true, but it isn't. Solar is great because I said so!". This guy provides evidence to support that it is not true and gets downvoted? Wut? For the umptieth time HN hears only what it wants to hear.
  - forgetsusername 10y ago
    Indeed. The HN hive mind is strong. Post oatmeal commentary about favorite subjects and receive up votes.
- tim333 10y ago
  The headline's accurate in that India energy minister said "solar is now cheaper than coal." Doesn't necessarily mean solar is actually cheaper than coal.
  - TheLogothete 10y ago
    He said that? Can you please provide the quote?
    - tim333 10y ago
      Ok - it seems he tweeted rather than said it: >“Through transparent auctions with a ready provision of land, transmission and the like, solar tariffs have come down below thermal power cost,” Goyal said in a tweet. http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/22/solar-power-now-cheaper-than-coal-in-india-says-energy-minister/ http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/22/solar-power-now-cheaper-...
- Osiris30 10y ago
  There are very little subsidies for Wind and Solar in India. MNRCE subsidies are for specific projects. The vast majority are tenders or auctions. Developers bid a tarrif whatever they feel their Return on Assets can bear. See here for more https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11520789 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11520789
- the_why_of_y 10y ago
  They have to subsidize solar a bit so it can compete with the huge subsidies for carbon based fuels. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=42940.0 http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=42940.0

forrestthewoods 10y ago

As best I can tell India's government is currently spending billions of dollars on solar. Maybe it will some day not be subsidy based. But as best I can tell it currently is. In fact the government appears to be spending one hundred billion dollars on solar in the next six years. By 2022. Furthermore, "The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy provides 70 percent subsidy on the installation cost of a solar photovoltaic power plant in North-East states and 30 percentage subsidy on other regions." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_India I'm all for renewable energy. Solar is great. At this point I don't see how the headline isn't clickbait bullshit.

TheLogothete 10y ago
Why is this guy getting downvoted? There are multiple people saying "sounds too good to be true, but it isn't. Solar is great because I said so!". This guy provides evidence to support that it is not true and gets downvoted? Wut? For the umptieth time HN hears only what it wants to hear.
- forgetsusername 10y ago
  Indeed. The HN hive mind is strong. Post oatmeal commentary about favorite subjects and receive up votes.
tim333 10y ago
The headline's accurate in that India energy minister said "solar is now cheaper than coal." Doesn't necessarily mean solar is actually cheaper than coal.
- TheLogothete 10y ago
  He said that? Can you please provide the quote?
  - tim333 10y ago
    Ok - it seems he tweeted rather than said it: >“Through transparent auctions with a ready provision of land, transmission and the like, solar tariffs have come down below thermal power cost,” Goyal said in a tweet. http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/22/solar-power-now-cheaper-than-coal-in-india-says-energy-minister/ http://cleantechnica.com/2016/01/22/solar-power-now-cheaper-...
Osiris30 10y ago
There are very little subsidies for Wind and Solar in India. MNRCE subsidies are for specific projects. The vast majority are tenders or auctions. Developers bid a tarrif whatever they feel their Return on Assets can bear. See here for more https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11520789 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11520789
the_why_of_y 10y ago
They have to subsidize solar a bit so it can compete with the huge subsidies for carbon based fuels. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=42940.0 http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/cat/longres.aspx?sk=42940.0