The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 15th December 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Energy Conundrum

Context

At the core of India’s energy transformation is its bet on solar power. Based on a commitment to address the global climate crisis, India has promised to source nearly half its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and, in the shorter term, source at least 60% of its renewable energy from solar power. 

Solar Energy

Solar energy is the energy that we get from the sun. We get enough energy from the Sun that it could meet up our power demands, if only we could harness it properly. The energy that is absorbed by the earth is used for drying clothes, used by plants in the process of photosynthesis, taken in by the ocean where the heat creates wind and heat currents and for heating up homes, etc.

• Some of the major applications of solar energy are as follows:
  • Solar Thermal Power Production: Solar thermal power production means the conversion of solar energy into electricity through thermal energy. In this procedure, solar energy is first utilized to heat up a working fluid, gas, water or any other volatile liquid. This heat energy is then converted into mechanical energy m a turbine. Finally, a conventional generator coupled to a turbine converts this mechanical energy into electrical energy
  • Solar heating systems use solar energy to heat a fluid — either liquid or air — and then transfer the solar heat directly to the interior space or to a storage system for later use. If the solar system cannot provide adequate space heating, an auxiliary or backup system provides the additional heat.
  • Photoelectric Cells: This method converts the sun’s energy into electricity. Photovoltaic cells are the most popular form of converting solar energy into electricity. These cells are silicon-based pieces of materials that absorb the sun’s light. When the sunlight enters the cells, it causes the electrons to move. These electrons move in a certain direction which is known as current. This electricity is in the form of direct current.
• Advantages of Solar Energy:
  • Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in almost all areas of the world and is available every day.
  • High energy yield: Solar energy has ability to live grid free if all power generated provides enough for the home / building
  • Solar power is pollution free and causes no greenhouse gases to be emitted after installation
  • Solar energy involves low running costs & grid tie-up capital returns (Net Metering).
  • Solar energy conversion equipments have longer life and need lesser maintenance and hence provide higher energy infrastructure security.
• Disadvantages of Solar Energy:
  • Solar Energy Storage Is Expensive: Solar energy has to be used right away, or it can be stored in large batteries. These batteries, used in off-the-grid solar systems, can be charged during the day so that the energy is used at night. This is a good solution for using solar energy all day long but it is also quite expensive.
  • Uses a Lot of Space: The more electricity you want to produce, the more solar panels you will need, as you want to collect as much sunlight as possible. Solar PV panels require a lot of space and some roofs are not big enough to fit the number of solar panels that you would like to have
  • Associated with Pollution: Although pollution related to solar energy systems is far less compared to other sources of energy, solar energy can be associated with pollution. Transportation and installation of solar systems have been associated with the emission of greenhouse gases. There are also some toxic materials and hazardous products used during the manufacturing process of solar photovoltaic systems, which can indirectly affect the environment.

Solar energy in India

• India has plenty of sunshine, there are two ways we can produce electricity, from the sunlight:
  • Photovoltaic Electricity: Solar photovoltaic (SPV) cells convert solar radiation (sunlight) into electricity. A solar cell is a semi-conducting device made of silicon and/or other materials, which, when exposed to sunlight, generates electricity.
  • Solar-Thermal Electricity – Solar Thermal energy uses a solar collector that has a mirrored surface that reflects the sunlight onto a receiver that heats up a liquid. This heated up liquid is used to make steam that produces electricity.

Solar Power in India

• Solar power is a rapidly growing industry in India, as part of the country's renewable energy sector.
• As of March 31, 2022, the country's solar installed capacity was 53.997 GW.
• Nearly 42 solar parks have been built in India to provide land to solar plant developers.
• According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, another 36.03 GW of solar projects are in various phases of implementation (as of January 31, 2021), with another 23.87 GW in the tendering process.
• Rooftop solar power generates 2.1 GW, with 70% of it being used for industrial or commercial purposes.
• India is developing off-grid solar power for local energy requirements in addition to its large-scale grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) effort.
• Solar products are increasingly being used to address rural requirements; by the end of 2015, the country had sold just under one million solar lamps, eliminating the need for kerosene.

National Solar Potential

• The calculated solar energy incidence on India's geographical area is roughly 5 quadrillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year (or 5 EWh/yr) with about 300 clear and sunny days per year.
• Solar energy available in a single year is greater than the combined energy production of India's fossil fuel reserves.
• In India, the daily average solar-power-plant generating capacity is 0.30 kWh per m2 of usable land area, which translates to 1,400–1,800 peak (rated) capacity operating hours per year using commercially proven technology.
• India initiated a $40 million experiment in June 2015 to detect solar radiation with a spatial resolution of 3 by 3 kilometres.
• The Indian solar-radiation atlas is built on the foundation of this solar-radiation measurement network.
• The National Institute of Wind Energy, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has deployed solar radiation resource assessment (SRRA) stations around India to develop a database of solar-energy potential.
• The Centre for Wind Energy Technology collects and reports data (C-WET).
• Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance are some of the metrics measured (DHI).

Government Initiatives

Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (Kusum Scheme)

• The Central Government has announced the Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) scheme, which aims to increase solar electricity output in India while also providing farmers with the benefits of solar farming.
• The Kusum Scheme is carried out by: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is in charge of this project.
• Initially, 1.75 million off-grid agricultural solar pumps will be distributed by the government.
• 10, 000 megawatts Solar panels will be installed on barren ground.
• The state electricity distribution firms, or DISCOMS, will purchase the extra solar energy generated by farmers on barren fields. DISCOMS will be given incentives to purchase this electricity.
• The government's tube wells and existing pumps will be adapted to run on solar power.

International Solar Alliance

• The international solar alliance has been granted observer status by the United Nations General Assembly, six years after it was jointly founded by France and India.
• It's a historic move that will pave the way for clear cooperation between the ISA and the UN, as well as promote global energy development.
• The ISA was developed in 2015 as a joint effort by India and France during the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties' 21st session.
• The alliance was founded with the goal of promoting solar energy in member nations and mobilising over $1 trillion in funding for solar energy installations at a low cost.
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a group of countries with abundant solar resources that are located entirely or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG)

• The One Sun One World One System (OSOWOG) is a global electricity grid that distributes power around the world.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi first proposed the initiative at the International Solar Alliance's (ISA) inaugural assembly in 2018.
• According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Electricity's (MNRE) proposal, the OSOWOG will have a large size, intending to offer energy to around 140 countries via a single system that will transport solar power.
• The OSOWOG's philosophy is that 'The Sun Never Sets,' and that it is always present in some geographical spot, globally, at any given time.
• The programme will aid in the realization of energy development's "three transitions."
  • The shift from fossil fuel to clean energy dominance in energy production.
  • The shift in energy allocation from local equilibrium to cross-border and worldwide distribution, as well as
  • The shift in energy consumption from coal, oil, and gas to electric-centric usage.

National Solar Mission

• The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, often known as the National Solar Mission, is one of India's National Action Plan on Climate Change's eight main National Missions (NAPCC).
• NAPCC was established on June 30, 2008, with the goal of making solar energy technology development a national mission.
• The mission was approved by the government on January 11, 2010.
• In June 2015, the Mission lowered its lofty objective of deploying 20,000 MW of grid-connected solar power by 2022 to 1,00,000 MW by 2022.
• The National Solar Mission's goal is to make India a global leader in solar energy by establishing the policy circumstances that will allow it to spread as swiftly as possible across the country.

Rooftop Solar Scheme

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched a rooftop solar programme.
• The Grid-Connected Rooftop Solar Scheme (Phase II) is now being implemented: Rooftop Solar Projects are expected to generate a total capacity of 40,000 MW by 2022.
• Distribution companies (DISCOMs) in the state are implementing this scheme.
• The Ministry will provide a 40% subsidy for the first 3 kW of solar panel capacity and a 20% subsidy for the next 3 kW and up to 10 kW of solar panel capacity under this programme.
• The cost of a rooftop solar plant must be paid by the residential customer by reducing the subsidy amount supplied by the Ministry to the vendor at the stipulated rate.

National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy 2018

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy adopted the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy on May 14, 2018. (MNRE).
• It's a campaign to promote a huge grid-connected wind-solar PV hybrid system that makes efficient use of transmission lines and land.
• The National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy also intends to reduce renewable power generation unpredictability and improve grid stability.
• The following are the major objectives of the National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy:
  • Provide a comprehensive framework for promoting big grid-connected wind-solar photovoltaic (PV) hybrid systems that make efficient use of transmission infrastructure and land.
  • Reduce renewable energy generation fluctuation and improve grid stability.
  • Encourage the development of novel technologies, methods, and workarounds that combine the functioning of wind and solar PV systems.

Conclusion

During the last few years, solar energy has had a noticeable impact on the Indian energy landscape. Millions of people in Indian communities have profited from solar energy-based decentralized and distributed applications that meet their cooking, lighting, and other energy demands in an environmentally benign manner. The social and economic benefits include a reduction in drudgery among rural women and girls who collect fuel wood over long distances and cook in smoky kitchens, a reduction in the risk of contracting lung and eye diseases, the creation of employment at the village level, and, ultimately, an improvement in the standard of living and the creation of economic opportunities at the village level. In addition, India's solar energy sector has grown to become a prominent player in grid-connected power generation capacity throughout the years. It promotes the government's agenda of long-term growth while also establishing itself as an important contributor to meeting the country's energy demands and a key role in ensuring energy security.