India, with all its growing economy and a massive population of over a billion people, has long struggled with energy shortages. Even though the nation is one of the biggest energy producers in the world, it is seldom able to satisfy the electrical needs of its ever-growing population. At the moment, coal accounts for almost 53% of India’s energy needs; according to projections, the country’s coal supplies would run out by 2050. [coal-fired power station]. It is well known that over 72% of this third world country’s population still lives in villages, with just approximately half of its rural population having access to electricity. It is past time for India to transition to renewable energy sources and provide its people with their fair share of power.
Solar panel in India have emerged as the most feasible and environmentally benign alternative for India’s energy needs, especially the 50% of its rural population that remains without power. A basic solar system is very simple to install; all that is required is that the solar panels be installed properly. Numerous individuals were already aware of its advantages and were eager to install solar systems in their homes; in reality, solar panel usage in India is not new and has been in certain areas for quite some time. However, it has failed to establish sustained momentum.
Solar panel future in India is as bright as the sun from which solar systems get their energy. A concise summary of why India will undoubtedly transition to solar energy is as follows:
1. Geography Advantage
How much longer can India continue to overlook the imminent danger to its fossil fuel reserves? India’s geographical position enables it to generate not just enough energy to satisfy its own needs, but also enough energy to power the whole globe! Due to its tropical location, it gets abundant solar radiation throughout the year, totaling approximately 3,000 long hours of sunlight. In India, there are five states with the greatest renewable energy capacity, where solar panels in India can generate sufficient power even on cloudy days.
2. India’s Upcoming Solar Projects
Due to their strategic position, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra have an incredible amount of potential to harness solar energy. Currently, the Thar area of Rajasthan is home to some of the country’s finest solar installations, producing up to 2,100 GW of electricity. Gujarat is home to one of India’s biggest solar power facilities. Last year, the Indian government authorized a master plan for the transformation of 50 of the country’s towns into blooming solar cities.
3. How Can Solar Panel in India Be Used in a Variety of Ways Around You?
Another reason why a solar panel in India is unavoidably the future of India’s electricity is the variety of ways in which the sun’s radiation can be harnessed—from solar panels, which form the backbone of any solar system, to solar inverters, solar street lights, solar UPSs, solar fans, solar lanterns, solar cables, solar mobile chargers, and solar power conditioning units.
4. Exceptionally advantageous at a low cost
To begin, solar panels in India and solar systems are somewhat more costly to buy. However, it is also true that solar systems, once installed, immediately begin to save money! Solar panels typically have a 25-year lifetime and are well worth the investment in every way. Solar panel used to power electrical equipment removes any need for a continuous supply of electricity to any location. Solar panels in India are also a boon to the average man’s monthly electricity expenses.
5. Prospects for Employment
The shift to solar panels in India is both immanent and long overdue. It is just a matter of time until we see the emergence of a complete solar sector. The chronic issue of unemployment in India will undoubtedly improve, and the jobless young will see the light of day as more jobs are created.
Solar Panel in India in the post-covid-19 era:
Covid-19 has affected the globe, and it serves as a reminder to everyone that nature is supreme when it comes to reestablishing equilibrium. We saw improved air quality and a cleaner atmosphere during the lockdown period, but if we do not learn from our errors and take significant measures to correct them, we risk aggravating the issue again. Our reliance on fast diminishing fossil fuels has cost us dearly in terms of global warming, air pollution, and biodiversity loss, and these environmental costs are unsustainable. It is past time for us to transition to alternative energy sources to meet our energy requirements.
India has set a renewable energy goal of 175 GW for 2022, of which 100 GW will come from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from small hydropower, and 5 GW from biomass. Solar has been allocated 100 GW, of which about 37 GW has been installed too far, due to its ease of installation and minimal maintenance requirements.
Additionally, with just one year remaining, solar adoption must accelerate to achieve the goal.
Covid-19 has affected the solar sector, and this has served as a wake-up call. India’s solar sector is heavily reliant on imports from other nations, particularly China, which is the world’s largest solar exporter, producing about 80% of solar cells, modules, and other solar components. The Chinese lockdown, which has resulted in work limitations, has had a detrimental effect on the solar sector, resulting in a massive deficit in fulfilling demand, resulting in project delays and therefore a lack of development. This geopolitical situation affected supply and resulted in a rise in hardware prices across the board.
To reduce its reliance on imports, India must establish numerous specialized production facilities to satisfy demand and achieve self-sufficiency. More manufacturing capacity will result in increased job possibilities in this industry.
Thus, given the favorable fiscal environment, solar energy, which is the simplest of all renewable energy technologies to install, becomes the obvious alternative to conventional energy production. Apart from being a more cost-effective alternative to traditional fuels like coal, a solar panel in India has the potential to address one of India’s most pressing issues, unemployment, which has been exacerbated by the epidemic. According to IRENA‘s annual review 2020 report (RE & Employment), the solar photovoltaic (PV) sector generated 2,04,000 jobs in India in 2019 and is expected to continue doing so in the future.
The Indian solar ecosystem has gone a long way and is continuing to evolve to become self-sufficient in terms of technology, manufacturing, hardware supply, and finance to drive further development. Solar regulations relating to the generation, transmission, finance, and net metering need more government attention.
While utility-scale solar adoption is accelerating, the rooftop (distributed) solar sector is not keeping up with the rate predicted in Mission 2022. And, since its introduction, restricting net-metering to projects with a capacity of less than 10 kW has caused significant dissatisfaction among customers, installers, and developers. This needs immediate review by the Ministry of Power, and all roof-top systems, whatever of size, should be eligible for net metering.
We are more hopeful than ever before since the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors have witnessed a dramatic increase in solar adoption after unlock-1. We should utilise this crucial time to implement good reforms and structural improvements that will provide the groundwork for a robust and sustainable RE future. To paraphrase Albert Einstein, “in the middle of every crisis, there exists tremendous potential.” Solar, if supported by reforms and public awareness, has the potential to become the next big thing as a solution not just to environmental issues, but also to cost savings, sustainable development, job creation, and fulfilling our international renewable energy obligations.
Is Renewable Energy a Sustainable Option for India?
Solar panel in India is the primary unrestricted source of limitless energy that is accessible to everyone. Additionally, India is one of the sun’s most favored countries, receiving about 5,000 TWh of solar insolation annually. Even if just a tenth of this potential is realized, it can solve India’s energy issues — by using the country’s deserts and farmland to build solar facilities. Renewable energy has the potential to revitalize India’s economy by generating millions of new jobs, enabling the nation to attain energy independence, decrease its trade imbalances, and advance as a “Green Nation.” In sum, renewable energy provides India with far too many advantages to ignore or postpone its growth.
India should use this golden opportunity to the fullest extent possible since renewable energy is particularly relevant in distant and rural regions, where about 289 million people lack access to dependable electricity sources. Solar panel in India are the most cost-effective way for India to alleviate electricity poverty without extending national grid services to individual houses and businesses.
India currently has a generating capacity of about 200,000 MW. The nation may expand grid-connected solar capacity to over 200,000 MW and wind capacity to over 100,000 MW by 2030 with the development of the necessary resources (and, more crucially, energy regulations). India can build large commercial wind farms to harness the country’s abundant onshore and offshore wind resources, thus increasing the country’s supply of clean renewable energy. However, to access this enormous resource, India must rapidly create and execute innovative business models and favorable laws.
Solar Panel Benefits in India
Several of the benefits of solar panels that make them particularly suited for India include the following:
- This is an infinite source of energy and the greatest substitute for non-renewable energy sources in India.
- Solar energy is non-polluting. When in operation, it emits no CO2 or other pollutants into the air. As a result, it is ideal for India, which is one of the most polluted nations on the planet.
- Solar panels in India may be utilized for several functions, including heating, drying, cooking, and power, making it an ideal source of energy for rural India. Additionally, it may be utilized in automobiles, aircraft, big powerboats, satellites, calculators, and a variety of other things that are ideal for the metropolitan population.
- Solar energy is limitless. The solar panel is the greatest alternative energy source in an energy-scarce nation like India, where electricity production is prohibitively expensive.
- Solar energy does not need a power or gas infrastructure. Anywhere a solar panel system may be placed. Solar panels in India may be readily installed on residential roofs. As a result, it is very affordable in comparison to other forms of energy. Solar energy’s future in India
Numerous large-scale Solar Panel energy projects have been planned in India.
- The Thar Desert is home to some of India’s most advanced solar panel plants, projected to produce between 700 and 2,100 GW.
- On March 1, 2014, former Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi launched India’s largest solar power facility in Diken in Madhya Pradesh’s Neemuch district.
- The Centre’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) aims to install 20,000 MW of solar panel capacity by 2022.
- Gujarat’s pioneering solar energy program seeks to generate 1,000 megawatts of solar energy.
- In July 2009, a $19 billion solar energy plan was announced, to generate 20 gigawatts of solar energy by 2020.
- Approximately 66 MW of solar energy has been deployed in rural areas for different purposes, including solar lanterns, street lighting systems, and solar water pumps.
Conclusion
India benefits from its geographical position and has great potential for solar panel generation. Solar Power Generation can provide more than 60% to 65% of our total energy needs. Thus, we must concentrate on plans to install big projects in Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir, while Banda district – the most appropriate site in Uttar Pradesh – is the most acceptable location to cater to our Uttar Pradesh needs. Apart from the aforementioned, we must also concentrate on Roof Top Solar Panel in India generation, which has the potential to reduce our energy consumption by more than 50% for each household.
