The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has inaugurated a Bio-Solar-Wind Microgrid Centre and Centre for Water and Environment Research at Indian Institute of Engineering Science & Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, West Bengal on Friday (May 19).
The purpose behind setting up of these centres is to ensure that electricity is available for ordinary people and potable water is provided for consumption of both humans and animals.
The President said that "the facilities are crucial from the perspective of socio-economic development. Centres such as these are the need of the hour, with resource sustainability and environmental protection having become pressing global issues."
He added that "in present-day circumstances, energy availability has become uncertain with augmentation in power generation capacity unable to meet the rising demand for power of various consuming centres such as industry, household, etc. A micro-management of power system using renewable energy sources will lead to self-sufficiency in high consuming destinations like institutions and industry."
India, being a signatory to the Paris Agreement, must emphasise on renewable energy to ensure sustainable development. Under the Paris Agreement, India is committed to have a specific rate of reduction in carbon emission over the years.