India's solar industry is set to surge

topic:	Renewables
located:	India
editor:	Bindu Gopal Rao

With its tropical climate, India has ample sunlight throughout the year, which is one of the primary reasons the country is betting on solar energy. Solar is one of the cleanest forms of renewable energy, and India can use it to produce 5000 trillion kilowatts each year.

Taking this forward, the Government of India recently announced a new scheme called the betting on solar energy that aims to provide free electricity to up to 300 units every month for 10 million households. These households must have an annual income of at most Rs 1.5 lakhs.

This will work via a subsidy that the Government will give to households that install solar panels on their roofs. The subsidy will cover about 40% of the solar panels cost and is estimated to save Rs. 75000 crore per year in electricity costs. The advantages projected are manifold: free electricity for households, reduced electricity costs for the Government, increased use of renewable energy, and eventually reduced carbon emissions.

The Cabinet recently approved this scheme, which entails a total outlay of Rs.75021 crore. The scheme will offer Rs.30000 to every household for a 1kw system, Rs.60000 for a 2kw system, and Rs.78000 for a 3kw system. A model solar village in each district is also in the works, which the Government will develop as a role model for adopting rooftop solar, especially in the rural belts.

Apart from other benefits, the scheme will create 1.7 million direct manufacturing, installation, and maintenance jobs. The significant environmental benefit is that adding 30 GW of solar power generation capacity can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 720 million tonnes.

These ambitious plans come with their own set of challenges. Firstly, the implementation issues to ensure this large-scale scheme reaches the interior hinterlands need efficient implementation and overcoming logistical issues. Since there will be a cost associated with the project, accessibility of loans and ensuring easy access to credit is imperative. The premise of the correct roof is necessary, as solar panel installation can only happen on suitable rooftops, and alternative solutions may be required.

The project is ambitious, and if it can meet the goals it has set out to reach, it will certainly augur well ecologically as the people reduce their dependence on the traditional grid. However, overcoming the challenges and teething issues will ensure the project succeeds.

Image by Luis Graterol.

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