Energy consumption and electricity determine the economy of the country. It also measures the rate of development in the country. Due to different kinds of advancements in technologies and measures taken by India’s government, the country has observed a very fast development of solar power in India. The country observed a solar installed capacity of 36.9 GW as per records in November 2020. The regular sale and use of different items installed with panels that run on solar energy have helped people in India to conserve energy and also reduce electricity bills.
Development Of Solar Power And Solar Energy In India:
India is a country that lies in the temperate and sub-tropical region of the earth. Geographically, the position of India adds to the solar potential of the country. With almost 300 clear and sunny days in a year, the energy collected from the solar radiation is about 5000trillion kilowatts-hours per year. It exceeds the energy available from all the fossil fuel reserves in the country. This reduces the quantity of import of fuels such as petrol, diesel, etc., from other countries and promotes the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat, which means being self-reliant.
With the establishment of nearly 42 solar parks worldwide, the country is now taking the initiative of developing Off-grid Solar Power to satisfy the local energy needs.
Most of India is still rural and is not economically well established. The development of solar power has served them greatly. Use of solar instruments such and solar cooker, solar heater, solar lanterns have reduced the need and expense for kerosene among people. Besides all these developments, the government also took the initiative to distribute solar cookers and install solar street lamps and home lighting systems running on solar energy as a part of the national program of the ministry of new and renewable energy sources.
A proposal for International Solar Alliance was introduced to harness abundant solar power globally and put forward the concept of “One Sun One World One Grid” and ”World Solar Bank.”
The government also proposed a five-year plan between 2002-2007 to develop electrification in rural India because lack of infrastructure for electricity has always been a source of obstruction and hurdle for rural development.
In July 2020, the prime minister of India inaugurated one of the largest solar projects in the country and the first one in India to break the off-grid parity in the district of Rewa in Madhya Pradesh to promote the use of clean energy, reduce the import of resources from other countries and to reduce the price of electricity. This initiative by the government is also considered as a step towards the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
How Does The Manufacture Of Solar Cells In The Country Take Place?
Solar cell companies in India such as Loom Solar, Goldi Green Technologies, Tata power solar, etc., have led to the development of solar power. These companies manufacture different photovoltaic cells and mono solar panels used at different commercial and domestic levels. Continuous and steady production of solar panels and solar cells has also reduced the import of solar panels from other countries. These manufacturers are also producing monocrystalline silicon PERC cells, which are better performing and have more endurance, thereby being sold at an increasing rate in the local market. The solar cells companies and the government has a joined initiative to ensure energy security. The larger goal that they have in mind is to attain energy self-sufficiency.
Why is solar energy very essential in a country like India?
For a developing country like India, it is essential to be self-reliant in almost every aspect. When a factor like electricity is concerned, self-reliance is key as it determines the nation’s economy. Though most of India’s population is economically backward, and everyone cannot afford to buy costly solar panels. Yet, with the favorable government monetary rebate policies, people can afford to buy them. It also has a long warranty period of 20-25 years, which ensures the product’s longevity and effectiveness. The additional money required to pay for the electricity is also quite less by the use of solar energy.
Besides all other factors that make the use of solar energy essential, the property of it being a clean and renewable source of energy serves a greater purpose. Other forms of energy are non-renewable and a source of heavy pollution, which hurts the Air Quality Index. A decrease in the Air Quality Index can cause serious respiratory diseases and even serious ailments like cancer and asthma.
The solar cell required for solar power production requires a low maintenance cost, can be used in different finance, and has diverse applications.
