Ranchi, Aug. 12: Alternative power sources like solar energy is not capable of meeting industry needs. This was revealed by Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited managing director S.N. Verma while speaking as the chief guest at a two-day national seminar on power at Mecon Community Hall in Ranchi on Saturday.

The seminar, organised by the state chapter of Institute of Engineers in association with MECON Ltd, has brought together over 100 experts and 22 companies to discuss the issues related to the power sector in the country.

"Solar energy can meet only 19 per cent of industrial requirement," Verma said, adding that combining hydro-electricity with solar energy could plug the gap. "The rest of the world prefers producing hydro-electricity to thermo-electricity because coal has a limited stock," Verma said, adding that many of the existing hydel plants of the country need repairs as their machines are past their prime. Verma also pitched for a separate budget provision for infrastructure.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the seminar, Mecon CMD Atul Bhatt informed that the power consultancy major was working on a plan to provide uninterrupted power to nine states of the country.