India is inormus possibility develop solar energy
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If we want to meet the goal of 24x7 electricity to every citizen in the country, while reducing the pollution and smog enveloping our urban areas, the best solution for the medium term seems to be solar energy. But, while enormous progress has been made on that front, more needs to be done to take full advantage of the power of the sun. Chetan Maini, who developed India's first-ever commercial electric car, the Reva, writes about how to harness the full power of the sun for clean energy.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a new target for India's solar mission - five-fold increase in solar power generation to 100 GW by 2022. This would be equivalent to around 10 per cent of the power mix of the country seven years from now. With this target, India could become one of the largest producers of solar power, globally. This year, India is going to add around 5 MW of solar power. Therefore, the mission is definitely a stretched target, but doable, considering China is adding around 13 GW every year. The ramifications to India will be phenomenal if we achieve the target. It will provide the right platform for sustainable growth for the next 25 years. It will increase our energy security, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, combat climate change, besides creating a new industry and a significant amount of new jobs. This would also position India as a global leader and exporter in solar power solutions.
Today, we import over 80 per cent of oil and 20 per cent of coal to meet our energy needs. This puts significant stress on us, as a nation, which needs to maintain its growth trajectory, while minimising the negative effects of rising global commodity prices. India is targeting GDP growth of 7-8 per cent and, to achieve it, our energy demands are also expected to go up. Therefore, it is imperative to look at clean energy. Further, solar energy not only helps combat climate change, but can also reduce local pollution levels.
(Photo: Vivan Mehra)
Geographically, India is an ideal country for solar energy. We get 300 days of sunshine, our peak power demand is in the evening and not during daytime (driven by cooling requirements), and we have a seasonal peak in the summer. These are also times when solar energy is at its peak.
India has weak electrical grids and distribution losses of 20 % add to the fi nancial burden of operators. Solar power has signifi cant day peaks and seasonal peaks, which require effi cient storage of energy. Therefore, we need to develop an energy-effi cient ecosystem.
But, what's the cost of solar power? The equation has changed dramatically in the last 40 years - from $60 per Watt in the mid 70s to less than a $1 per Watt, today. The end result is that in recent solar power agreements, Andhra Pradesh touched a record low of Rs 4.63 per kilowatt hour (Kwhr) for a 25-year tariff. Even after adding distribution costs, this will be lower than the current cost of commercial power in 12 states. Recent bids for thermal power in Andhra Pradesh were Rs 4.27-4.98/Kwhr, the difference with solar energy being quite marginal. Given the likelihood of coal prices rising over the next 20-30 years and solar costs likely to come down, it makes more sense to be investing in solar.
While our focus remains on solar photovoltaics (PV) tied to the grid or on rooftops, there are several other potential solutions, including distributed solar PV systems that use energy without a local grid. Improvements in sterling engine technologies can also be adapted. One can use solar collectors (a parabolic reflector to concentrate heat) to power a sterling engine that converts thermal energy to mechanical power. This can then be connected to a generator to produce power. With the increase in adoption of LEDs, low voltage electronics and efficient brushless DC motor technology, houses can be powered by using DC directly from solar panels. This can help reduce energy consumption by over 50 per cent. While this may be challenging with the current infrastructure, such new technology solutions can easily be deployed at the 100 smart cities India is planning to set up.