Solar Energy

• Solar energy is the energy that we get from the Sun, and if harnessed properly, it could meet our power demands.
• Solar energy has multiple applications, including solar thermal power production, solar heating systems, and photoelectric cells.
• Solar thermal power production converts solar energy into electricity through thermal energy, which is then converted into electrical energy.
• Solar heating systems use solar energy to heat a fluid and transfer the solar heat directly to the interior space or to a storage system.
• Photoelectric cells convert the sun’s energy into electricity, with photovoltaic cells being the most popular form of converting solar energy into electricity.
• Advantages:
  • Solar energy systems can be installed on rooftops or unused land, reducing the need for new infrastructure.
  • Solar energy can provide electricity to remote areas where traditional power sources may not be available or are too expensive to install.
  • Solar energy systems can be modular, meaning they can be easily expanded or scaled down as needed.
  • Solar panels can act as shading devices, reducing the amount of heat absorbed by a building and reducing cooling costs.
• Disadvantages:
  • Solar energy production is dependent on weather conditions, with cloudy days reducing energy production.
  • The manufacturing process of solar panels requires energy and resources, including toxic materials and hazardous waste.
  • Solar panels have a limited lifespan and need to be disposed of properly at the end of their life cycle.
  • The installation of solar panels may require modifications to existing buildings or infrastructure, which can be costly.

Solar energy in India

• India has plenty of sunshine which can be used to generate electricity.
• Two ways to produce electricity from sunlight are photovoltaic electricity and solar-thermal electricity.
• Photovoltaic electricity:
  • Photovoltaic (PV) cells convert solar radiation into electricity by using two semi-conductor layers to create a voltage differential when electrons flow through the circuit.
  • PV cells are attached to an aluminum mounting system and generate direct current (DC) which is converted to alternate current (AC) using inverters.
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• Solar-thermal electricity:
  • It uses a solar collector with a mirrored surface to focus sunlight onto a receiver that heats up a fluid, which generates steam to produce electricity.
  • Parabolic troughs are the most commonly used solar collectors, and they use a curved, mirrored trough to reflect direct solar radiation onto a glass tube containing a fluid.
  • The fluid gets heated owing to the concentrated solar radiation, and the hot steam generated is used to rotate a turbine to produce electricity.
  • Commonly used fluids for solar-thermal electricity are synthetic oil, molten salt, and pressurized steam.
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Scenario of Solar Energy in India

• India has plenty of sunshine, making it an ideal location to produce solar power.
• India’s solar installed capacity was 44.3 GW as of 31 August 2021.
• India has established nearly 42 solar parks to make land available to the promoters of solar plants.
• India aims to achieve 100 GW of solar power out of 175 GW renewable energy by 2022 as part of its INDC commitment.
• The solar sector has the potential to create new jobs; 1 GW of Solar manufacturing facility generates approximately 4000 direct and indirect jobs.
• Advancements are underway for storage, which has the potential to revolutionise this sector globally.
• India is expected to be 8% of global solar capacity by 2035, with a future potential capacity of 363 GW.
• Solar energy can play an important role in providing energy security and reducing India’s dependence on fossil fuels.
• Solar energy is a clean and green energy resource that is virtually inexhaustible and globally distributed.

Government initiatives

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is the nodal agency to tackle India’s renewable energy issues.
• National Solar Mission to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security challenge.
• The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) provides term loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
• National Institute of Solar Energy is created as an autonomous institution under MoNRE and is the apex body for R&D.
• Establishment of solar parks and ultra major solar power projects and enhancing grid connectivity infrastructure.
• Promotion of canal bank and canal tank solar infrastructure.
• Sustainable Rooftop Implementation of Solar Transfiguration of India (SRISTI) scheme to promote rooftop solar power projects in India.
• Suryamitra programme to prepare a qualified workforce.
• Renewable Purchase Obligation for large energy consumer customers.
• National Green Energy Programme and Green Energy Corridor.
• Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission to develop solar energy capacity with a target of 100 GW by 2022.
• The 100GW solar power capacity target is divided into four parts: rooftop solar energy generation of 40 GW, large and medium-scale grid-connected solar projects of 60 GW, deploying 15 million square meters of solar thermal collector area by 2017 and 20 million by 2022, and deploying 20 million solar lighting systems for rural areas by 2022.

International initiatives

• India’s commitment as part of INDC at Paris climate deal to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level.
• To achieve about 40 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030, with the help of transfer of technology and low cost international finance, including from Green Climate Fund.
• The establishment of International Solar Alliance (ISA) of more than 122 countries initiated by India, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn to promote solar energy.
• To mobilize more than US $ 1000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy, and pave the way for future technologies adapted to the needs.

Major Solar Power Park in India

S.No	Solar Power Park in India
1	Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan
2	Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka
3	Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
4	NP Kunta, Andhra Pradesh
5	Rewa Ultra Mega Solar, Madhya Pradesh
6	Charanka Solar Park, Gujarat
7	Kamuthi Solar Power Project, Tamil Nadu
8	Ananthapuramu – II, Andhra Pradesh
9	Galiveedu solar park, Andhra Pradesh
10	Mandsaur Solar Farm, Madhya Pradesh

• Bhadla Solar Park:
  • Location: Bhadla, Phalodi tehsil, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India
  • Area: 14,000 acres
  • Total capacity: 2,245 MW
  • Investment: Rs 10,000 crore (US$1.3 billion)
• Pavagada Solar Park:
  • Location: Pavagada taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka, India
  • Area: 53 sq km (13,000 acres)
  • Total capacity: 2,050 MW
• Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park:
  • Location: Panyam mandal, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Area: 5,932.32 acres
  • Total capacity: 1,000 MW
  • Investment: ?7,000 crore (US$980 million)
• NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park:
  • Location: Nambulapulakunta mandal, Ananthapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Area: 7,924.76 acres
  • Commissioned: May 2016
• Rewa Ultra Mega Solar:
  • Location: Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Capacity: Largest single site solar plant in Asia
  • Total capacity: Not specified
  • Implementing agency: Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL)
  • Joint venture between Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikash Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
• Charanka Solar Park:
  • Location: Charanka village, Patan district, Gujarat, India
  • Area: 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres)
  • Development stage
• Kamuthi Solar Power Project:
  • Location: Kamuthi, Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Area: 2,500 acres
  • Photovoltaic power station
• Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar Park:
  • Location: Mylavaram mandal, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Area: 5,927.76 acres
  • Implementing agency: Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL), a joint venture of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation, and the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd.