Solar Power in India – Advantages and Disadvantages

Though blessed with abundant sunlight, averaging approximately 3000 hours a year, India has yet to utilise this advantage in terms of power generation. The country is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which are unviable in the long run. The highest proportion of installed electric energy comes from coal, which is polluting and a non – renewable source. It is estimated that India’s coal reserves are fast depleting and will last only up until 2040 or so. Apart from coal, the other sources are hydro, gas and nuclear. A significant portion of oil used to generate energy in India is imported. It is imperative that the country reduces dependence on foreign oil. Hydro electric generation also comes with certain disadvantages such as human displacement, soil erosion, diminished forest cover and wildlife habitats.

Sunlight is the most reliable and viable source of energy in the long run. However, India’s solar energy installation constitutes a tiny percentage of installed electric capacity in the country today. There is an urgent need to develop cost – effective technologies to harness sunlight in order to generate a significant percentage of clean energy and thus, gradually reduce dependence on environmentally degrading, non – renewable and expensive sources.

The advantages of solar power are significant enough for India to accelerate the generation of solar energy and make it one of the top priorities. 

Although the process of manufacturing solar energy equipment is environmentally degrading to a certain extent, the use of solar power systems and devices is not. Hence, solar energy contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions.

Once installed and commissioned, solar energy equipment is relatively simple to operate and requires scarcely any servicing or maintenance.

Though still an expensive form of power generation, solar systems on the whole are becoming more cost – effective as technology improves and economies of scale begin to have an impact. It is anticipated that solar electricity will cost less and less as technological advances make energy conversion more efficient.

Solar electricity is sometimes the only energy alternative in isolated locations, which are not connected to the conventional electricity grid. Many far flung villages in India, which were without electricity earlier, now have the facility of solar power.

Solar power, when fed into the grid, can be used as an economical substitute for high – cost peak hour supply and as a means to ease grid loading. It also serves as an alternative to local battery power.

Grid fed solar energy when used locally minimises losses related to transmission. India’s current distribution and transmission losses are not insignificant.

Solar power, however, does not come without disadvantages.

Solar thermal power can be used after dark or in cloudy conditions only if viable and cost – effective storage solutions are available. Solar power can be used directly only in daylight.

Another drawback of grid fed solar energy is the necessity of maintaining back up power plants in order to ensure that grids continue to function even when solar energy stations do not generate electricity. However, keeping back up plants ready to supply power when solar energy is not available entails considerable energy costs since these plants usually run on fossil fuels such as coal.

Locations that do not receive adequate sunlight or are cloudy for most of the year cannot derive maximum benefits from solar power without proper storage solutions.

Solar energy needs to be converted into AC power before it is used in conventional electricity transmission grid systems because solar cells produce DC power. This results in a 5 – 10% energy penalty, which reduces the output of solar panels to that extent.

As regards vehicles, solar power cannot be used directly but must be converted into a form of energy that is compatible with motorised transport. This again results in energy losses. 

However, climate change and the urgent necessity of reducing our dependence on coal and oil make it imperative for India to pursue a proactive and dynamic policy of promoting solar power development and installation on a priority basis. The advantages are too great to ignore. Eventually, technological advances will minimise the disadvantages.