CONTENTS:

1. INTRODUCTION:-1

a) SOLAR ENERGY FACTS: - 1

b) ADVANTAGES-DISADVANTAGES: - 4

2. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS:-7

3. POTENTIAL LOCATIONS FOR SOLAR POWER GENERATION:-8

4. SOLAR POWER MARKET:-9

5. WEBLINKS:-10
Energy Policy Of India

India’s energy consumption has been rising very fast in the past few years. During the 5-year
period ended March 31, 2007, the CAGR of consumption of petroleum products was
approximately 3.6%, compared to a CAGR for GDP of 7.6% for the same period. Even then the
per capita energy consumption of india is very low

India has one of the highest potentials for the effective use of renewable energy. The energy
policy of India is characterized by tradeoffs between four major drivers:

 Rapidly growing economy, with a need for dependable and reliable supply of electricity,
gas, and petroleum products;
 Increasing household incomes, with a need for affordable and adequate supply of
electricity, and clean cooking fuels;
 Limited domestic reserves of fossil fuels, and the need to import a vast fraction of the
gas, crude oil, and petroleum product requirements, and recently the need to import
coal as well; and
 Indoor, urban and regional environmental impacts, necessitating the need for the
adoption of cleaner fuels and cleaner technologies.

These trade-offs are often difficult to achieve. The generation of clean electricity from
renewable sources and making it available to the rural population which is power deprived is a
major challenge.

Solar Energy

India's theoretical solar potential is about 5000 T kWh per year (i.e. ~ 600 TW), far more than its
current total consumption.[9][10] Currently solar power is prohibitive due to high initial costs of
deployment. However India's long-term solar potential could be unparalleled in the world
because it has the ideal combination of both high solar insolation and a big potential consumer
base density.[11][12] With a major section of its citizens still surviving off-grid, India's grid system
is considerably under-developed. Availability of cheap solar can bring electricity to people, and
bypass the need of installation of expensive grid lines. Also a major factor influencing a regions
energy intensity is the cost of energy consumed for temperature control. Since cooling load
requirements are roughly in phase with the sun's intensity, cooling from intense solar radiation
could make perfect energy-economic sense in the subcontinent, whenever the required
technology becomes competitively cheaper.The worldwide demand for Solar Energy is currently
greater than supply.

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Facts about Solar Energy usage:

 Solar Energy is measured in kilowatt-hour. 1 kilowatt = 1000 watts.

 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) = the amount of electricity required to burn a 100 watt light bulb
for 10 hours.
 According to the US Department of Energy, an average American household used
approximately 866-kilowatt hours per month in 1999 costing them $70.68.
 About 30% of our total energy consumption is used to heat water.

Facts about Solar Energy systems:

 A 1-kilowatt home solar system takes about 1-2 days to install and costs around
US$10,000, but can vary greatly and does not take into account any incentives offered
by the government.
 A 1-kilowatt home solar system consists of about 10-12 solar panels and requires about
100 square feet of installation area.
 A 1 kilowatt home solar system will generate approximately 1,600 kilowatt hours per
year in a sunny climate (receiving 5.5 hours of sunshine per day) and approximately 750
kilowatt hours per year in a cloudy climate (receiving 2.5 hours of sunshine per day).
 A 1-kilowatt home solar system will prevent approximately 170 lbs. of coal from being
burned, 300 lbs of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and 105 gallons of
water from being consumed each month!

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Other Interesting Facts about Solar Energy:

 In one hour more sunlight falls on the earth than what is used by the entire population
in one year.
 Fierce weather cost the world a record $130 Billion in the first eleven months of 1998-
more money than was lost from weather related disasters from 1980 to 1990 ($82
Billion).
 Researchers from the Worldwatch Institute and Munich Re blame deforestation and
climate change from Earth warming for much of the loss. The previous one-year record
was $90 Billion in 1996. Source - Associated Press, November 28,1998.
 Third world countries with an abundance of sunlight and a population currently without
electricity, represents the fastest growing market for solar energy, with the largest
domestic market being the utilities sector.
 Shell Oil predicts that 50% of the world's energy will come from renewable sources by
2040.

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Solar Energy Advantages

1. Solar Energy Is Abundant

Solar energy is everywhere, it’s abundant and we’ll practically never run out. Even in mid winter
we are blessed with a moderate amount of natural daylight provided courtesy of the sun. Okay,
it might not be sunny everyday but we are still experiencing radiation from the sun and it is this
which can be gleaned for our own renewable energy purposes. Thus the need for finding a long
lasting energy resource is over!

2. Saves you money:

 After the initial investment has been recovered, the energy harvested from the sun is
practically FREE.
 The recovery/ payback period for this investment can be very short depending on how
much electricity your household uses.
 Financial incentives are available form the government that will reduce your cost.
 Solar energy does not require any fuel.
 The use of solar energy indirectly reduces health costs.

3. Environmentally friendly

 Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to
protect our environment.
 It does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or
mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generations does.
 Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog. Hence,
there is absolutely no danger of damaging our already damaged environment further
and you can be part of the Green initiative, lower your carbon footprint, and save our
planet from harmful greenhouse gases.
 It actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions.
 It's generated where it is needed. It doesn’t matter how remote, solar can generate
energy where no other form of power can be obtained.
 By not using any fuel, Solar Energy does not contribute to the cost and problems of the
recovery and transportation of fuel or the storage of radioactive waste.

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4. Independent/ semi-independent

 Solar Energy can be utilized to offset utility-supplied energy consumption. It does not
only reduce your electricity bill, but will also continue to supply your home/ business
with electricity in the event of a power outage.
 A Solar Energy system can operate entirely independent, not requiring a connection to a
power or gas grid at all. Systems can therefore be installed in remote locations (like
holiday log cabins), making it more practical and cost-effective than the supply of utility
electricity to a new site.
 The use of Solar Energy reduces our dependence on foreign and/or centralized sources
of energy, influenced by natural disasters or international events and so contributes to a
sustainable future.
 Solar Energy supports local job and wealth creation, fuelling local economies.

5. Solar Energy Is Cost Effective

While solar photovoltaic are still relatively expensive,, the technology is growing rapidly as is
production – and as a result the costs involved are coming down and is now cost effective. Solar
hot water panels have been greatly improved in recent years and, with lower cost, payback
times for domestic systems can now be as short as five years. As coal, gas and oil prices
continue to rise solar energy will become a viable alternative. It’s secure. We live in uncertain
times and we are increasingly relying on our fossil fuel supplies coming from areas abroad over
which we have little or no control.

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Solar Energy Disadvantages

1. The initial cost is the main disadvantage of installing a solar energy system, largely
because of the high cost of the semi-conducting materials used in building one.
2. The cost of solar energy is also high compared to non-renewable utility-supplied
electricity. As energy shortages are becoming more common, solar energy is becoming
more price-competitive.
3. Solar panels require quite a large area for installation to achieve a good level of
efficiency.
4. The efficiency of the system also relies on the location of the sun, although this problem
can be overcome with the installation of certain components.
5. The production of solar energy is influenced by the presence of clouds or pollution in
the air.
6. Similarly, no solar energy will be produced during nighttime although a battery backup
system and/or net metering will solve this problem.
7. As far as solar powered cars go - their slower speed might not appeal to everyone
caught up in today's rat race.

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Environmental impact of solar energy

Since solar power systems generate no air pollution during operation, the primary
environmental, health, and safety issues involve how they are manufactured, installed, and
ultimately disposed of. Energy is required to manufacture and install solar components, and any
fossil fuels used for this purpose will generate emissions. Thus, an important question is how
much fossil energy input is required for solar systems compared to the fossil energy consumed
by comparable conventional energy systems.

Materials used in some solar systems can create health and safety hazards for workers and
anyone else coming into contact with them. In particular, the manufacturing of photovoltaic
cells often requires hazardous materials such as arsenic and cadmium. Even relatively inert
silicon, a major material used in solar cells, can be hazardous to workers if it is breathed in as
dust. Workers involved in manufacturing photovoltaic modules and components must
consequently be protected from exposure to these materials. There is an additional-probably
very small-danger that hazardous fumes released from photovoltaic modules attached to
burning homes or buildings could injure fire fighters.

The large amount of land required for utility-scale solar power plants-approximately one square
kilometer for every 20-60 megawatts (MW) generated-poses an additional problem, especially
where wildlife protection is a concern. But this problem is not unique to solar power plants.
Generating electricity from coal actually requires as much or more land per unit of energy
delivered if the land used in strip mining is taken into account. Solar-thermal plants (like most
conventional power plants) also require cooling water, which may be costly or scarce in desert
areas.

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Potential locations in India suitable for harnessing solar power for the
generation of electricity

Though it's being observed that northern Gujarat, Rajasthan and parts of Ladakh region receive
the maximum annual global radiation but Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and some parts of
Andhra Pradesh don't lack much behind as compared to other places. Research shows that
annual worldwide radiation fluctuates from 1600 to 2200 kWh/m2 which is equivalent to
almost 6,000 million GWh of energy a year.

The dense population and high amount of solar insulation makes the country lead all other
places in wind power generation by providing a perfect amalgamation of solar energy. It's
recommended by some famous think-tanks that India should take up a policy to develop solar
energy as the main element of the renewable power combination. India has kept aside a 35,000
km2 region of the Thar Desert which would suffice in generating 700 to 2,100 giga watts for the
proposed large solar energy projects.

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Solar Power Generation Market

Installations in the global solar market have grown by an average of 40% year on year for the
past 4 years driven by a number of factors. The sector has huge potential for technological
improvement and it is this change that will move the solar sector to grid parity in years to
come. Over $30bn was invested in the solar sector in 2007 according to some estimates and
this investment trend has continued in 2008 and a recent study has predicted that the global
solar market could grow to a $100bn industry by 2013 reaching 23GW installed from 4.9GW in
2008. Spain, Germany, Japan and the USA currently lead the global market for solar and with
recent legislative announcements in the US and Spain creating new regulatory certainty in both
markets solar power is very much at the forefront of renewable energy expansion.

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Some Useful links

 Kshitij 2011 : http://www.ktj.in/#home

 IIT Kharagpur : http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/
 GE : http://www.ge.com/in/
 Industrial Design Problems, Kshitij 2011: http://www.ktj.in/#Solargize
 Other Resources for Reference:
http://www.marketresearch.com/map/research/solar_power/387.html
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/solar-power/

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