Himachal Pradesh will have the country's first solar-grade silicon plant, based on environment friendly, state-of-the-art technology. The plant will be set-up by Indo-Norwegian Solar Company. "It will manufacture silicon ignots and wafers at 70 per cent lower cost, to meet India's emerging demand for solar cells. The price of silicon has been increasing rapidly as there are only few manufacturers of solar-grade silicon,' Erik Tonseth, chairman of the company, said. A team of company executives, including two Indian directors, Nirmal Gaur and G.S.Chopra, met state Governor V.S. Kokje, Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop and Manoj Kumar, Director, Industries. The project will be fully commissioned in three years time after getting the government nod. "What we require from the government is a commitment of uninterrupted quality power of 30 MW and our land requirement would be 70 to 80 acres,' said Chopra at a press conference. Beside Himachal Pradesh, the company will also explored options in Uttaranchal, Haryana and Meghalaya. "Indo-Norwegian Solar Company will enter the market with a distinct cost advantage. The company also has a plan to set up its own R&D unit and plans to tie up with the local technology institutes,' said Nirmal Gaur. He said with the ever-increasing oil prices, need for alternate energy sources will assume a huge role in the future and solar energy source is the solution to these crisis.