Debate of global warming and climate change is compelling the world to move from fossil-based energy towards clean and green energy.
Issues with conventional energy generation:
- Coal - Carbon emission and limited supply
- Nuclear energy- Technological barriers and involves high risk
- Biofuels- Contributes to deforestation, soil erosion and unsustainable in nature.
In this context Solar energy has gained immense popularity due to benefits it offers compared to conventional ones:
- Limitless- Sun as a source can never dry up and can be used continuously without fearing end of supply. Conventional sources such as coal may dry up in future.
- Clean energy- Non-polluting and zero greenhouse gas contribution.
- Affordable- Easy to adopt and install and has high domestic utility.
- Income generating- Not restricted to just large companies or governments to set up solar power plants. Individuals can also set up plants and can sell to distributing companies.
- Easy to transport- Minimum energy loss.
Initiatives offered by Indian government to harness solar energy:
- International Solar Alliance- Open for all countries.
- Allowed 100%FDI in solar projects under automatic route.
- National Solar Mission- Target of achieving 100GW solar capacity by 2022.
- PM- KUSUM Yojana- Enables farmers to use and sell surplus solar energy.
- Solar Mitra Scheme- Encouraging Entrepreneurship in the solar sector.
- Solar Park Scheme- To enhance grid connectivity.
- Inclusion of solar in priority sector for enhanced finance for sector.
- ISRO licensed battery tech to Indian industry to boost battery production-key to solar energy usage.
Solar energy can play an important role in providing energy security. It is high time for India to have Solar Waste Management and Manufacturing Standards Policy in order to have a robust institutional framework for solar energy.