“Solar energy is going to be a major medium of energy needs not only today but in the 21st century. Because solar energy is sure, pure and secure.”
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2020)
Solar energy has once again gained news headlines and public attention with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’ soon after the historic consecration at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on 22January 2024. This scheme will bring a landmark change in the country’s energy sector. The mission is to install rooftop solar panels on one crore houses in the country. The PM said the scheme would reduce the electricity bill of the poor and middle class and make India self-reliant in the energy sector.
Universal household electricity access is a central political commitment of the Prime Minister, and the government is prioritising to make it happen. The announcement by the Prime Minister comes at a time when India is striving to achieve a renewable energy capacity of 500 gigawatts by 2030. Adequate production of energy that is inexpensive and low in carbon emission will help to end poverty and encourage economic development in urban areas.
ELECTRICITY, AN ELIXIR OF LIFE
Electricity has become the fundamental element of human life. It’s like the elixir of life, the water. Both are essential for human survival. In today’s world, we cannot think of a day without electricity. Everything associated with human life runs on electricity, be it communication, food, health care, infrastructure, or transport. Even the digital and AI revolution taking place are linked with electricity. A second of power failure can bring the whole nation or the world to a standstill. It’s intricately linked with human life.
Has anyone thought whether we would get electricity like this forever? Will it stop? What will happen if there is no electricity from one fine morning?
The present generation wouldn’t be able to dream of such a scenario. But when we look at the history of electricity, we will realise that the electricity that we see today is a comparatively recent discovery, which happened in the early 18th century. Even in contemporary times, there are generations that had lived a life without electricity, where kerosene lamps and candles were the only sources of light.
Electricity is fundamentally a type of energy that arises from the existence and motion of electric charges, namely the mobility of electrons. The discovery of electricity in 1752 is most commonly attributed to the American polymath Benjamin Franklin. During the experiment, he affixed a wire to a kite during a rainstorm, demonstrating that lightning is composed of electrical energy. An Italian physicist by the name of Alessandro Volta is credited with developing the first electric battery, which was referred to as the ‘voltaic pile’, in the year 1800. The device in question was a big step forward in the area because it could produce a constant flow of electrical current.The groundbreaking work ofMichaelFaraday (1791-1867) on electromagnetism theory laid the foundation for developing electric generators and transformers. The electricity we see today is attributed to Thomas Edison (1847-1931), who illuminated an incandescent bulb with energy in 1879. Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) made numerous advancements in the field of electricity. He pioneered the production of alternate currents, which revolutionised the way electricity is generated, transmitted, and distributed.
The first demonstration of electric light in India was conducted in Kolkata (then Calcutta) in mid-1879 during the British colonisation of the sub-continent. India’s first hydropower power plant was built in Darjeeling, West Bengal. In 1897, a 130-kW project was put in place in Sidrapong, Darjeeling. It was also the first water power plant in Asia. This was followed by the Shivanasamudra Hydro Power Project in 1902 in Karnataka. Since then, many hydroelectric projects, thermal and nuclear, have been established in different parts of the country. The Hussain Sagar Thermal Power Station in Hyderabad is the first thermal power station established in 1920.The first atomic power plant, Tarapur Atomic Power Station in Maharashtra, was commissioned on 28 October 1969.
NEED FOR CLEAN ENERGY
Hydroelectric projects may not be feasible in the long run due to the changing climatic patterns and ecological impacts. India is not very rich in fossil fuel resources, so thermal power plants are also not feasible in the long run. Moreover, the recently concluded COP28 meeting calls on countries to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to maintain the global warming temperature within the threshold limit of 1.5oC. Considering the large and growing energy demand, India is looking for alternate clean energy sources like renewable energy. The first wind farms in India were installed in 1986 along the coastal areas of Maharashtra (Ratnagiri), Gujarat (Okha), and Tamil Nadu (Tirunelveli). Realising the potential of solar power, the Government of India initiated the National Solar Mission in 2010.
As per the latest report of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for August 2023, India has installed a power generation capacity of 424 GW, which includes 206 GW coal-based, 47 GW of large hydro, and about 132 GW of renewables (solar, wind energy etc). As of 2023, India’s solar power generation capacity has now surpassed 70,000 Megawatt. The major share in solar power generation is held by states like Rajasthan (17839.98 MW), Gujarat (10133.66 MW), Punjab (1190.58MW) and Haryana (1106.49MW). The country has an estimated solar power potential of 7,48,990 MW. Hence, the potential of solar energy has not been fully tapped so far. The government is making efforts to harness the available potential through various schemes and programmes.
PROMOTING SOLAR ENERGY
India is actively participating in the global solar revolution rather than just watching. India has experienced an impressive transition in the last five years, going from 21,651 MW to 70,096 MW in 2023, and is now ranked fourth globally in solar power capacity. India is making great strides towards its renewable energy target of 500 GW by 2030, thanks to various programmes like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) that aims to build an ecosystem for manufacturing high-efficiency solar PV modules in India, and thus reduce import dependence in the area of Renewable Energy.
The Solar Park Scheme is another significant effort that underscores India’s dedication to advancing solar energy. This initiative aims to establish 50 Solar Parks, each with a capacity of 500 MW or more, totalling around 38 GW by the fiscal year 2025-26. These solar parks function as central hubs for solar energy generation, drawing in investments and fostering an environment conducive to the growth of solar power. They play a pivotal role in achieving economies of scale, ultimately contributing to the increased affordability and accessibility of solar energy. Under this scheme, 11 Solar Parks with a combined capacity of 8,521 MW have been fully completed, while 7 Solar Parks with a total capacity of 3,985 MW are in various stages of completion. These parks have been instrumental in the development of solar projects with an aggregate capacity of 10,237 MW.
Initiatives like PM-KUSUM, with a target of adding 30.8 GW of solar power capacity by March 2026, are revolutionising India’s agricultural landscape. This transformation involves establishing decentralised solar power plants, substituting agricultural diesel pumps with solar-powered counterparts, and integrating solar technology into existing grid-connected agriculture pumps. The guidelines of the scheme emphasise the compulsory use of domestically manufactured solar modules, indigenous solar cells, motor pump-sets, controllers, and the overall balance of the system.
The new addition, ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’ will expedite our target of 500 gigawatts by 2030. It will also help us achieve our vision of making electricity accessible to every household.
ROOFTOP SOLAR PANELS
A Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system known as a Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) Plant involves placing PV panels on the roofs of buildings to generate electricity. This rooftop solar system serves various purposes, including meeting the energy demands of the buildings, charging batteries for future use, or exporting excess electricity to the grid. Solar panels can be installed on various types of roofs, including asphalt shingles, metal, tile, and flat roofs. In addition to the solar PV panels, essential components of a rooftop solar system include an inverter, module mounting structure, wires and cables, monitoring and safety equipment, and meters.
For grid-connected electricity consumers utilising rooftop solar systems, the mechanism of ‘net metering’ comes into play. This allows consumers to first consume electricity generated from the rooftop system and subsequently export any surplus energy to the grid. Consequently, the amount of electricity drawn from the grid decreases. During the electricity bill generation process, consumers are billed solely for the net electricity consumed, representing the difference between the electricity obtained from the grid and the surplus electricity exported to the grid from the rooftop solar system. A conceptual diagram is given below,
Promoting rooftop solar is integral to transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient energy system. Beyond the economic and technological advancements, the environmental benefits of solar power advancements include:
- Mitigating climate change: Solar panels significantly contribute to reducing climate change through their low ecological impact and minimise carbon footprint.
- Reduced pollution: Transitioning to cleaner energy sources reduces air and water pollution, promoting a healthier and sustainable environment.
- Securing the planet’s future: Solar power’s environmental benefits go beyond progress, which is crucial in ensuring a sustainable future.
- Employment opportunities: Large scale adoption of solar power will help in generating more jobs in research and development, production, installation and servicing and in marketing sectors.
The quest for a sustainable future has become an imperative global mission, and science plays a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of this journey. Among the various avenues of scientific innovation, the harnessing of solar energy emerges as a beacon of hope for achieving sustainability. The economic viability of solar power has improved considerably, making it an increasingly competitive option for electricity generation. Policies implemented by the Government, such as the Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana, play a significant part in encouraging the widespread use of solar energy. Suryodaya Yojana can even support the ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ initiative envisioned by the Prime Minister that caters to the energy needs of the whole planet.
Scientific research informs and supports these policy initiatives, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainable energy transition. Scientific advancements in photovoltaic technology, solar thermal systems, energy storage, and supportive policies collectively propel the world towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable energy landscape. By harnessing the sun’s power, humanity can forge a path to a future where energy needs are met without compromising the planet’s well-being. The objective is not solely focused on achieving sustainable energy but also on fostering a thriving and robust economy powered by solar energy for a sustainable future.
*The writer is a science communicator and an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru. He can be reached at bijudharmapalan@gmail.com.
