Solar energy is harnessed from sunlight and is a form of renewable energy. Solar power in India is crucial for generating electricity through large infrastructural solar plant set-ups. The solar panels are used to harvest electricity from the solar energy trapped and absorbed by the sunlight. It is one of the fast-growing and emerging renewable energy industries in India. Many companies provide commercial solar power solutions like manufacturing and installing solar panels. It is indeed one of the cheapest renewable energy sources used for converting solar energy into electricity. 

Solar Power as Renewable Energy in India for Electricity 

Solar energy is renewable as it is abundant and obtained from sunlight. As of 31st January 2022, India’s solar power capacity is 50.777 GW. Although the initial aim of 2022 was just 20GW, the overall solar power generation has exceeded. Solar power in India is important for the power sector as it helps in providing affordable electricity across all parts of the country, including the rural areas. The development of off-grid solar power helps in fulfilling the local need for electricity. It is one of the preferred energy sources as it is environmentally sustainable, low cost, and highly efficient. India aims to build a solar electricity capacity of 100GW by the end of 2022 and a rooftop solar capacity of 40GW.

Important Information on Solar power in India

  • The policies and development of solar power as a renewable energy industry in India are handled by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The off-grid decentralised installation has provided an excellent boost for rural electrification. 
  • The National Solar Mission (NSM) was launched on 11th January 2010. The government initiative is a mission that targets the installation of nearly 100 GW of grid-connected solar power plants by 2022. This aims to achieve 40% of electric power from renewable energy in India.
  • The rooftop solar power includes 70% industrial or commercial installation producing 2.1 GW of power.
  • The largest solar power production in India is Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka, with a total capacity of 600 MW. It is expected to become the largest single-site solar plant globally with a 2GW installed capacity. 
  • Bengaluru has the most extensive solar heating set up with the largest installation of rooftop solar water in India. The solar heater installation generates an energy equivalent of 200MW. The heating is done through the photovoltaic thermal panels by generating electricity by sunlight. 
  • Rural electrification is facilitated majorly by solar power in India through installing the grid system. The local grid cluster help in electricity generation and hence is a booming renewable Energy Industry in India for rural areas. 

Generation of electricity from solar power 

Electricity is generated from solar power in India through various installations like solar power rooftop, ground mounting of panels, and off-grid solar power. The government has started many initiatives to support solar energy as renewable energy in India. The Union Budget 2021 announced 1.97 trillion allocations for scaling up and boosting the manufacture of solar PV (photovoltaic ) sectors to produce 45 billion solar PV modules.  

There are many schemes developed by the government to facilitate the generation and production of solar power in India:

  • The scheme “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power Projects” was rolled out on 12th December 2014 by the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. It proposed setting up at least 25 solar polar and solar power projects to generate 20,000 MW of solar power.
  • The Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Programme aims to install rooftop solar panels with a cumulative capacity of 40,000MW. The target for the completion of the project is 31st December 2022.
  • The off-grid and decentralised solar PV program was completed on 31st March 2021 with 3,00,000 solar street lights, solar power plants of size 25kWp, and a supply of 25,00 000 solar study lamps across the streets of North East India.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaam is a scheme that aims to add 25,750 MW of solar and other renewable capacities by the end of 2022.

Manufacturing of Solar panel 

Solar panels are an important structure that helps harness solar energy from sunlight and converts it into electricity. The manufacturing capacity of solar cells and solar modules of 4.3GW and 18GW will be attained in India by November 2021. The solar panels are manufactured with the help of flat glass. The quality and performance of the solar panels in the generation of electricity are further enhanced by using monocrystalline silicon PERC cells. The Electricity Act 2003 approves 100% FDI (foreign direct investment) for the installation of solar power plants and to improve the generation of solar power in India.

Conclusion 

Solar power is an important renewable energy industry in India as it is environmentally sustainable, and power is harvested from sunlight. The solar panels are installed on rooftops and on grounds to harvest the solar power from sunlight, which is converted into affordable electricity. The robust schemes and initiatives by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aim to improve rural electrification, generate low tariff electricity generation and save fossil fuel. As India is positioned close to the equator, it can maximise the use of natural sunlight by setting up solar power plants and panels and producing electricity.