THE MINISTER OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)
(a)&(b): Yes Madam. Modern Information & Communication Technology (ICT) can facilitate efficient and low carbon development in every sector, including generation and supply of electricity from diverse sources - conventional or renewable. Considering the good market potential/ business prospects of ICT in providing solutions that bring about more efficiency in power generation and distribution through real time information, control & net-metering, the interest of the IT companies in this sector appears to be only natural.
(c): Realization of full potential of renewable energy is constrained mainly by limitations of resource characteristics/ technology/ cost rather than the use of IT. Also, the contribution of electricity generation from renewable sources in the total electricity mix in the country is less than 5%. As such, the existing regulatory measures and the general incentives already available to IT companies are considered sufficient at this juncture for development of IT solutions for specifically the renewable power sector.