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New Delhi : Union Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has invited MSMEs to avail concessional debt finance to install rooftop solar for business efficiency. Rooftop Solar, he said, offers an excellent value proposition to MSMEs by significantly bringing down cost of electricity consumption, which on an average, is up to one-fifth of their operations cost.
Addressing a programme promoting awareness about rooftop solar (RTS) among MSMEs on February 26, 2021, Gadkari said, “I believe there is a strong business case for MSMEs to install rooftop solar for significant savings to achieve the cost-competitiveness. I am confident that MSMEs will stand together in generating and consuming solar power using their rooftops.”
The programme, inaugurated virtually by the Minister, was held in the presence of B B Swain, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; Junaid Ahmad, Country Director India, World Bank; and Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman, State Bank of India.
Gadkari, further added, “A large amount (average Rs 8 and higher per unit) is being paid by the MSMEs for power consumption, which contributes to up to one fifth of the overall production costs. To assist MSMEs in implementing rooftop solar projects, the Ministry is working with the World Bank on a credit guarantee programme to make financing accessible to unrated MSMEs. ” The Minister also highlighted that rooftop solar contributes in economic recovery as it employs more people than any other renewable energy, according to a PIB release.
Emphasising the importance of creating an awareness and large-scale adoption of rooftop solar for MSMEs, B B Swain said, “More than ever, MSMEs need low-cost power to optimise their production costs, recoup losses due to COVID and remain competitive both in national and international markets. The procurement of low-cost solar power and generating solar power as prosumers from rooftop solar are two timely and beneficial options for MSMEs. The Ministry is geared up to facilitate measures to empower the MSMEs to become one of the top priorities for a resilient India.”
The World Bank – SBI’s $625 million has supported India’s significant Rooftop Solar rollout. Junaid Ahmad, Country Director India, World Bank, addressing the gathering, said, “The World Bank is committed to the cause of MSMEs and an investment in this industry will aid India’s aim to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ or ‘self-reliant’. By facilitating MSMEs to decarbonise their power consumption in a sustainable manner, India can achieve a twin objective of greening the economy and uplifting MSMEs to become highly competitive by reducing its power costs.”
Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman, State Bank of India, said, “The idea is to really educate MSMEs about the benefit of adopting solar rooftop and achieving cost-competitiveness. We are thankful to the World Bank for accelerating this initiative and investing in India’s renewable energy journey. It is an investment for building up the economy and the more we invest, the more we will reap the fruits going forward. When it comes to small ticket loans, co-lending is perhaps the way forward and that is how we would like to support our smaller SMEs.”