In this article, You will read the Solar Energy and Solar Power Parks in India – for UPSC.

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.

Photovoltaic electricity

  • Solar panels are attached to an aluminium mounting system. Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made up of at least 2 semi-conductor layers – a positive charge, and a negative charge.
  • As a PV cell exposed to sunlight, photons are reflected, pass right through, or absorbed by the solar cell. When enough photons are absorbed by the negative layer of the photovoltaic cell, electrons are freed from the negative semiconductor material. These freed electrons migrate to the positive layer creating a voltage differential.
  • When the two layers are connected to an external load, the electrons flow through the circuit creating electricity.
  • The power generated is direct current (DC), which is converted to alternate current (AC) with the use of inverters.
photovoltaic-cell
Photovoltaic electricity

Solar-Thermal electricity

  • It utilizes focused sunlight and converts it into high-temperature heat. That heat is then channeled through a conventional generator to produce electricity.
  • Solar collectors capture and concentrate sunlight to heat a fluid which in turn generates electricity. There are several variations in the shape of the collectors. The most commonly used are parabolic troughs. A parabolic trough power plant use a curved, mirrored trough which reflects the direct solar radiation onto a glass tube containing a fluid and the fluid gets heated owing to the concentrated solar radiation and the hot steam generated is used to rotate the turbine to generate electricity. Commonly used fluids are synthetic oil, molten salt, and pressurized steam.
  • The power generated is the direct current (DC) which is converted to alternate current (AC) with the use of inverters.
solar thermal electricity
solar thermal electricity tower

Scenario of Solar Energy in India

  • India lying in tropical belt has an advantage of receiving peak solar radiation for 300 days, amounting 2300-3,000 hours of sunshine equivalent to above 5,000 trillion kWh.
  • Solar power in India is a fast developing industry as part of the renewable energy in India. The country’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’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC’s) commitment include 100 GW of solar power out of 175 GW renewable energy by 2022.
  • The sector also has immense potential to create new jobs; 1 GW of Solar manufacturing facility generates approximately 4000 direct and indirect jobs.
  • In addition solar deployment, operation and maintenance creates additional recurring jobs in the sector.
  • Advancements are underway for storage, which has the potential to revolutionise this sector globally, till then dependence on fossils can be reduced by gradually increasing the share of renewables.
  • India is expected to be 8% of global solar capacity by 2035. With the future potential capacity of 363 Gigawatts (GW), India can be a global leader in term of encashing energy sector advantages.
  • India facing problems in fulfilling its energy demand, solar energy can play an important role in providing energy security.
  • Debate of global warming and climate change is compelling the world to move from fossil based energy towards clean and green energy.
  • With its pollution free nature, virtually inexhaustible supply and global distribution, solar energy is very attractive energy resource.

India’s INDC, to be achieved primarily, by 2030

  • A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources.
  • To reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by about a third.
  • India also promised an additional carbon sink (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030.
solar energy in india
solar energy production in india

Government initiatives

  • Ministry of new and renewable energy is the nodal agency to tackle India’s renewable energy issues.
  • National Solar Mission is a major initiative of the Government of India and State Governments to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security challenge.
  • The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is a Non-Banking Financial Institution under the administrative control of this Ministry for providing term loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
  • National institute of solar energy is created as autonomous institution under MoNRE is apex body for R&D.
  • Establishment of solar parks and ultra major solar power project 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 qualified workforce.
  • Renewable purchase obligation for large energy consumer customers.
  • National green energy programme and green energy corridor.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

  • Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is one of the 8 missions under the National Action Plan On Climate Change (NAPCC).
  • It was launched on 30th June 2008 and was approved in 2010 focussing on developing the solar energy capacity of India. Initially, the target was 20 GW by 2022, which has been increased by the NDA government to 100 GW.
  • The 100GW solar power capacity has been divided into the following 4 parts:
    • The rooftop solar energy generation of 40 GW.
    • Large and medium scale grid-connected solar projects of 60 GW.
    • To achieve 15 million square meters of solar thermal collector area by 2017 and 20 million by 2022.
    • To deploy 20 million solar lighting systems for rural areas by 2022.
  • So, the clearance given by CCEA is in line with the goal of creating a base of 100 GW by 2022.
India Cumulative Installed Power Capacity
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.NoSolar Power Park in India
1Bhadla Solar Park, Rajasthan
2Pavagada Solar Park, Karnataka
3Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park, Andhra Pradesh
4NP Kunta, Andhra Pradesh
5Rewa Ultra Mega Solar, Madhya Pradesh
6Charanka Solar Park, Gujarat
7Kamuthi Solar Power Project, Tamil Nadu
8Ananthapuramu – II, Andhra Pradesh
9Galiveedu solar park, Andhra Pradesh
10Mandsaur Solar Farm, Madhya Pradesh

Bhadla Solar Park

  • Bhadla Solar Park is the world’s largest solar park located in India which is spread over a total area of 14,000 acres in Bhadla, Phalodi tehsil, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India.
  • The region has been described as “almost unlivable” due its climate. Average temperatures in Bhadla hover between 46 and 48 degrees Celsius. Hot winds and sand storms occur frequently. Bhadla is a sandy, dry and arid region with an area of about 45 km2.
  • The Solar park has a total capacity of 2,245 MW.
  • When its full capacity is operational, the park will become the world’s largest fully commissioned PV project, with investment rising to Rs 10,000 crore (US$1.3 billion).

Pavagada Solar Park

  • Pavagada Solar Park is a solar park covering an area of 53 square kilometres (13,000 acres) in Pavagada taluk, Tumkur district, Karnataka.
  • The Solar Power park has a capacity of 2,050 MW and is the World’s second largest photovoltaic solar park after 2245 MW Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan.
  • It was completed in 2019.

Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park

  • Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park is a solar park spread over a total area of 5,932.32 acres in Panyam mandal of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity of 1,000 MW.
  • The park was built at an investment of around ?7,000 crore (US$980 million) by solar power developers and the Central and State governments.
  • It was commissioned on 29 March 2017 and owned by Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL).

NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park

  • The NP Kunta Ultra Mega Solar Park, also known as Ananthapuram Ultra Mega Solar Park, is a solar park spread over a total area of 7,924.76 acres in Nambulapulakunta mandal in the Ananthapur district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
  • It was commissioned in May 2016, and is owned by Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited (APSPCL).

Rewa Ultra Mega Solar

  • Rewa Ultra Mega Solar is the first solar project in the country to break the grid parity barrier. It is one of the largest solar power plants in India and Asia’s Largest Single site solar plant.
  • Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited (RUMSL), the implementing agency of the project, is a joint venture between the Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikash Nigam Limited (MPUVNL) and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI).
  • Rewa is the first project in India to be supplying power to an inter-state open access customer, viz., Delhi Metro. This is also the first project in India where solar power would be used for railway traction.
  • The project got the World Bank Group’s President’s Award for excellence for its transaction structure.

Charanka Solar Park

  • Gujarat Solar Park-1 (also called Charanka Solar Park) is currently in the process of development on a 2,000-hectare (4,900-acre) plot of land near Charanka village in Patan district, northern Gujarat.

Kamuthi Solar Power Project

  • Kamuthi Solar Power Project is a photovoltaic power station spread over an area of 2,500 acres in Kamuthi, Ramanathapuram district, 90 km from Madurai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.

Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar Park

  • Kadapa Ultra Mega Solar Park is a solar park spread over a total area of 5,927.76 acres in the Mylavaram mandal of Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh.The project is being implemented by the 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.

Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects

  • Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects, also known as Ultra Mega Solar Parks, are a series of solar power projects planned by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of the Union Government of India.
  • In December 2014, the Government of India introduced a scheme to establish at least 25 solar parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects, adding over 20 GW of installed solar power capacity. The Central Government provides financial support for the construction of these solar projects.
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Swaraj

Thanku god….

Aakriti Singh

Thankyou so much Lotus arise following since 2021