India has been a major player in the global renewable energy revolution. Since the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, India has made significant progress in its renewable energy policies and its aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Among these sources of renewable energy, solar energy has emerged as a major contributor to India’s clean energy mix in the recent years. This article gives an overview of the future of solar energy in India and the case study of its growth over the years.
Solar Energy in India – An Overview
India has a rapidly growing economy and increasing energy demands due to a surge in population and economic growth. However, the country is blessed with abundant sunlight throughout the year, making solar energy a vital resource for the country. Over the last few years, the Indian government has launched several initiatives to harness this resource to meet the country’s energy demands. With India’s solar energy resource potential estimated at around 750 GW, the future of Indian solar sector looks promising.
Growth of Solar Energy in India
The growth of solar energy in India has been remarkable over the last few years. Back in 2010, solar installed capacity in India was negligible. Today, however, India is now the fourth-largest solar market in the world, and the country aims to achieve a target of 100 GW solar capacity by 2022. As of January 2021, India has already achieved 38.8 GW of installed solar capacity.
The growth of solar energy in India is attributed to many government policies and schemes that aim to incentivize solar development and investment in the solar sector. These policies and schemes include:
- Solar Park Scheme
- Rooftop Solar Scheme
- Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
- The National Solar Mission
Solar Park Scheme
The Solar Park Scheme was launched in 2015 with an aim to set up at least 40 solar parks each with the capacity of 500 Megawatts (MW) or more. The primary objective of the scheme is to develop solar parks with associated transmission infrastructure and research and development facilities to attract investments in the solar sector. The scheme has been successful in attracting various domestic and foreign investors to the Indian solar market.
Rooftop Solar Scheme
The Rooftop Solar Scheme was launched in 2015 with the aim of promoting the adoption of rooftop solar panels by households, commercial establishments, and industries. Under the scheme, the government provides subsidies and offers net metering facilities for excess electricity generated by the rooftop solar panels.
Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
The Solar Energy Corporation of India is a government-owned company that was established in 2011. Its primary objective is to promote, plan, and advance the development of solar energy projects across India. The company is involved in various activities such as project development, consultancy, project management, and other ancillary services.
The National Solar Mission
The National Solar Mission was launched in 2010, with an objective to achieve 20 GW of installed solar capacity by 2022. In 2015, the mission was expanded to 100 GW and extended to 2022. The mission aims to achieve this solar capacity through a combination of various schemes and policies, including incentives for solar-based power generation, research and development activities, and other incentives for the manufacturing of solar equipment.
Challenges and Opportunities
Although the Indian solar sector has made significant progress in recent years, it faces several challenges. These challenges include a lack of adequate infrastructure, such as transmission lines and storage facilities, land acquisition issues, and supply chain constraints. However, the Indian solar sector also presents significant opportunities for growth, attracting private investment, and creating jobs in the renewable energy sector.
Conclusion
Over the last decade, India’s solar sector has made remarkable progress in harnessing its solar energy potential. The initiatives taken by the Indian government have played a significant role in this growth. However, the sector faces several challenges that need to be tackled to ensure the long-term sustainability of the solar sector. The future of the solar sector in India is promising, and it has the potential to become a leader in the global renewable energy revolution.