Q.31) India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate.(GS-3: INDIAN ECONOMY, UPSC CSE 2020)(Answer in 250 words,15-marks)

India enhanced its solar power capacity massively from 5,593.484 MW in 2015 to 39, 211.158 MW in 2020, making a five-rank leap from its 10th position five years ago. A majority of India’s renewable energy mix comprises of Solar Energy. India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC’s) commitment include 100 GW of solar power out of 175 GW renewable energy by 2022.

India’s Solar Energy potential:

• • 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.

• • The Solar energy sector also has immense potential to create new jobs. It is estimated that 1 GW of Solar manufacturing facility generates approximately 4000 direct and indirect jobs.
  • India has the lowest capital cost per MW globally of installing solar power plants. The Indian government had an initial target of 20 GW capacity for 2022, which was achieved four years ahead of schedule.
  • 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 terms of energy sector

Regional variations in development of solar energy in India:

• • Concentrated nature of Solar energy development: Due to State government policies and favourable support at ground level, only some states hold the major chunk of Solar energy generation. States like Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, etc, lag behind their actual generation capacity while states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Rajasthan have performed well.
  • Technological support: India is still in process of becoming self-reliant in solar energy technological potential. For example, India is still not a solar panel manufacturer. This further creates lag with respect to already struggling states due to high dependence on import of
  • State policies: Further, issues like indebtedness of DISCOMs and State Government policies play a major role in regional disparities of solar energy capacities. For example, states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have established Solar energy parks and also provide various tax benefits which makes generation easier as compared to other states.

Conclusion:

The government must look upon the key requirements which are integrated policies fully supported by States. Industry must get help to set up facilities and avail low-cost financing both important elements in China’s rise and be able to invest in intellectual property. Like the Chinese government has subsidised land acquisition, raw material, labour and export, India must also work towards more aspects that improve the ease of producing solar energy in India.