Solar Production in India

SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION IN INDIA

Coming specifically to the land of much sun, heat and humidity as well as persistent power shortages, overdependence on coal (52%) and huge oil and gas imports, solar energy production in India remains appallingly low.

This is made evident by the minimal range of solar energy products in India. Solar lighting (solar lamps, street lights), rural electrification, solar water heaters, solar cookers and PV pumps sum up the measly range of solar energy products in India. Given the fact that there are only ten solar cell manufacturers in the country, it’s hardly surprising

Whether the fault is on the demand side or the suppliers’, it bears little consequence since they each feed the other. In the current situation, both need to come forward for solar energy products in India to reach anywhere near the variety abroad. For example, second generation solar cells have only now made an appearance in India, though still in labs at the moment; Reliance finally added solar ACs in its product brochure a mere two years ago.

It is hoped solar energy production will rise and solar energy products in the market will increase through government incentives (e.g. feed-in tariffs); bank loan schemes with interest-subsidies; training and development of solar energy product engineers; goal-driven R&D; and build-up of consumer awareness among other things.

Much has been said and conjectured about the availability and ideal nature of the Thar Desert to host its own photovoltaic plant. No concrete steps seem to have taken place yet. However, the biggest and boldest step so far to increase solar energy production in India has been taken through the launch of the National Solar Mission, which vows production of 20GW of solar power by 2020. This will invariably also increase the number of solar energy products in India and raise India as a world solar power producer.

Considering over 450 million people are still not connected to the electricity grid, solar energy production in India could – and should – be further exploited, given its independent nature. Given that 70% of India is still agriculturally inclined, solar energy products in India could easily be driven towards irrigation pumps and generators. India also has no substantive crude oil reserves; all existing ones are projected to be exhausted in the next coming decade. And irradiation figures clearly show that a meager 0.5% of India’s land under solar power could fully fulfill India’s energy demands in 2030.

These are only a few examples which demonstrate the perfect eligibility of solar energy production in India.

Already a leader in wind power generation, India would do well to step up its solar energy production, not only to feed its power hungry population but also to put into place a sustainable development infrastructure.

SOLAR POWER PRODUCTION IN INDIA

India is densely populated and has high solar insolation, an ideal combination for using solar power in India. India is already a leader in wind power generation. In the solar energy sector, some large projects have been proposed, and a 35,000 km2 area of the Thar Desert has been set aside for solar power projects, sufficient to generate 700 GW to 2,100 GW. Also India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has released the JNNSM Phase 2 Draft Policy,[1] by which the Government aims to install 10GW of Solar Power and of this 10 GW target, 4 GW would fall under the central scheme and the remaining 6 GW under various State specific schemes.
In July 2009, India unveiled a US$19 billion plan to produce 20 GW of solar power by 2020.[2] Under the plan, the use of solar-powered equipment and applications would be made compulsory in all government buildings, as well as hospitals and hotels.[3] On 18 November 2009, it was reported that India was ready to launch its National Solar Mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, with plans to generate 1,000 MW of power by 2013.[4] From August 2011 to July 2012, India went from 2.5 MW of grid connected photovoltaics to over 1,000 MW.
According to a 2011 report by BRIDGE TO INDIA and GTM Research, India is facing a perfect storm of factors that will drive solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption at a "furious pace over the next five years and beyond". The falling prices of PV panels, mostly from China but also from the U.S., has coincided with the growing cost of grid power in India. Government support and ample solar resources have also helped to increase solar adoption, but perhaps the biggest factor has been need. India, "as a growing economy with a surging middle class, is now facing a severe electricity deficit that often runs between 10 and 13 percent of daily need".[5]

Applications

Rural electrification
Solar lamps and lighting
Agricultural support
Solar water heaters