Write a note on the production and distribution of Solar Energy in India.
Answers
Solar power in India is a fast developing industry. The country's solar installed capacity reached 23 GW as of 30 June 2018.[1] India expanded its solar-generation capacity 8 times from 2,650 MW on 26 May 2014 to over 20 GW as on 31 January 2018.[2][3] The 20 GW capacity was initially targeted for 2022 but the government achieved the target four years ahead of schedule.[2][3] [4] The country added 3 GW of solar capacity in 2015-2016, 5 GW in 2016-2017 and over 10 GW in 2017-2018, with the average current price of solar electricity dropping to 18% below the average price of its coal-fired counterpart.[5][6][7]
In January 2015 the Indian government expanded its solar plans, targeting US$100 billion in investment and 100 GW of solar capacity (including 40 GW from rooftop solar) by 2022.[8][9][10][11][12] India's initiative of 100 GW of solar energy by 2022 is an ambitious target, since the world's installed solar-power capacity in 2017 is expected to be 303 GW.[13][14] The improvements in solar thermal storage power technology in recent years has made this task achievable as the cheaper solar power need not depend on costly and polluting coal/gas/nuclear based power generation for ensuring stable grid operation.[15][16][17]
In addition to its large-scale grid-connected solar PV initiative, India is developing off-grid solar power for local energy needs.[18] Solar products have increasingly helped to meet rural needs; by the end of 2015 just under one million solar lanterns were sold in the country, reducing the need for kerosene.[19] That year, 118,700 solar home lighting systems were installed and 46,655 solar street lighting installations were provided under a national program;[19] just over 1.4 million solar cookers were distributed in India.[19]
In January 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President François Hollande laid the foundation stone for the headquarters of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in Gwal Pahari, Gurgaon. The ISA will focus on promoting and developing solar energy and solar products for countries lying wholly or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The alliance of over 120 countries was announced at the Paris COP21 climate summit.[20] One hope of the ISA is that wider deployment will reduce production and development costs, facilitating the increased deployment of solar technologies to poor and remote regions.
A report published by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA)[21] found that India installed 10 GW of solar in 2017, almost double its record in 2016. Crucially, India’s “Scheme for Development of Solar Parks” has proven successful at attracting foreign capital toward construction of the world’s largest ultra-mega solar parks.[22][23]