India’s solar energy potential is vast, with regional variations in development. Sun-rich states like Rajasthan and Gujarat lead in solar capacity. Factors like sunlight availability, land availability, and state policies influence regional disparities. Harnessing this potential uniformly requires strategic planning and sustained efforts for nationwide solar integration.
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper – 1 Mains 2020
UPSC Mains Civil Services IAS Exam Question Paper – 2020
Tag: Distribution of key natural resources across the world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-continent).
Approach
- In Introduction, try to put some facts/data with respect to Solar Energy in India and its huge potential.
- In Body,
- Elaborate about solar energy regional variation in India with one or two examples.
- Elaborate measures which can overcome these regional variations as well as other problems associated with solar energy.
- In Conclusion, you can quote Research and Development in Solar Installations and also mention Government’s initiative and its impact.
Answer
Solar power in India is a fast developing industry. The country’s solar installed capacity reached 35.12 GW as of 30 June 2020. India has the lowest capital cost per MW globally of installing solar power plants. The Indian government had an initial target of 20 GW capacity for 2022, which was achieved four years ahead of schedule. Solar energy and its potential would be significant in India’s commitment.
India’s Potential of Solar Energy
- India lying in the tropical belt has an advantage of receiving peak solar radiation for 300 days, amounting 2300-3,000 hours of sunshine equivalent to above 5,000 trillion KWh.
- The country’s solar installed capacity reached 35.12 GW recently.
- India has the lowest capital cost per MW globally of installing solar power plants.
- The government of India had an initial target of 20 GW capacity for 2022, which was achieved four years ahead of schedule.
- In 2015, the target was raised to 100 GW of solar capacity (including 40 GW from rooftop solar) by 2022, targeting an investment of US$100 billion.
Regional variations
- Desert areas of Rajasthan and Kutch have barren lands and receive high insolation- favouring Solar energy. Rajasthan clinched the top position in the list of states with the highest estimated solar energy potential in the country.
- The Eastern Himalayan states like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Assam receive annual average insolation below 4 Kwh/meter. Sq./Day, which makes these states rely more on power grid and electricity from different states. Himalayan and north east India receives low solar insolation or due to the terrain, generating solar energy is not feasible.
- States closer to the tropics receive large solar insolation and are considered hotspots.
- Coastal states like Kerala have moderate generation potential due to the long monsoon season compared to heartland states.
Challenges to Solar energy program
- Overproduction leading to very low tariff rates-
- Production and technological barrier: lithium for PV cells is imported mainly from china.
- Poor integration of solar energy with grid
- Land acquisition for solar parks is a very perilous task.
Addressing the regional variations: This can be done through Concentrated Solar Power wherein storing heat is an option. Due to better cooling of the solar panels and the sun tracking system, the output of solar panels is enhanced substantially. One alternative is to use the water-surface area on canals, lakes, reservoirs, farm ponds and the sea for large solar-power plants. These water bodies can also provide water to clean the solar panels.
Conclusion
The Government of India has propelled the solar energy market with a plethora of initiatives and policies like PM KUSUM, SARAL Index, Floating solar plants in Gujarat, ISA etc. Solar energy with its low carbon footprint can be a potential substitute for conventional energy sources and would help fulfill India’s commitments under INDCs and Panchamrit proposals at COP 26, Glasgow.
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