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Home , National Solar Mission, Pm Kusum Scheme, Saubhagya scheme

WEENTECH Proceedings in Energy 6 (2) (2020) 1-13

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International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Technological University, New Delhi,

Modern development and potential uses of utilization in India: A review

Anand Vijay Satpute*, E. Vijay Kumar

Department of Electrical Engineering, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan University, Bhopal-462026, India

*Corresponding author’s mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Potential for solar energy is immense in India as it has maximum sunny days throughout the year. The fuel used in a thermal power plant is exhausting at a fast rate and is important to identify alternate source as . India lying in the equator region is at 5th position in solar power generation across the globe. The power extracted from solar radiation has been on rise from the year 2017 and the government remains focused on it by making solar power as major contributor in renewable energy. This manuscript offers a summary of the present situation, status, and the forthcoming challenges of solar energy generation in India. It further emphasizes on completely diverse aspects related with solar energy, steps, and policy decision carry out by the government to satisfy the long run power demand.

Keywords: Renewable energy; Solar energy; Solar radiation; Green energy; Carbon emission.

Copyright © 2020 Published by WEENTECH Ltd. All Peer-review process under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Recent Advances in Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Delhi Technological University, New Delhi, India, RAME2020

https://doi.org/10.32438/WPE.060203 Manuscript History Receipt of completed manuscript: 03 April 2020 Receipt of Revised Manuscript: 25 June 2020 Date of Acceptance: 28 June 2020 Online available from: 18 September 2020

Abbreviations

GW Giga Watt, Unit of Power MW Mega Watt, Unit of Power MWp Mega Watt Power, Unit of Solar Power GoI Page | 2 Rs/kWh Tariff of Power kWh Unit of Energy kWh/m2 Unit of Solar radiation ISA International Solar Alliance $ Dollar

1. Introduction

In-line with government of India’s vision of Electricity to Everyone, it is necessary for discovering out novel opportunities and technologies for electricity generation in clean energy sector. With the total energy available of 1267.5 billion kWh and a short fall of 7.07 billion kWh [1], Ministry of Power has framed National Electricity Plan (NEP) and developed a 10-year comprehensive action strategy so that power is available at cheap prices and efficiently to residents across the country [2]. Coal is used as the primary fuel in thermal power plants. As presented in Fig.1, the reliance on coal as a fuel for power generation is high as 54% of the total energy demand which includes central, state and private sector, the remaining 46% is, Hydropower with the share of 12.31%, oil with 1.12%, gas with 6.76%, renewable power with 23% and nuclear power contributing with least share of 1.83%. Solar energy generation reaching at 33,000 MW and with further development, it can play a better role as dependent power source in the near future as the government’s target for radiation projects has been bettered to 1,00,000 MW by the year 2022 [3]. As the energy demand per capita is increasing with the population as depicted in Fig.2, it is important to increase the growth rate of renewable energy generation. Rise in alertness about protecting our environment and the support for the cause by all major economies of the world through Kyoto-Protocol and Paris Agreement Treaty, the share of renewable energy has raised since it is free, clean and the most viable energy resource [4].

Fig.1 Sector-wise energy contribution [5].

Page | 3

Fig.2 Energy consumption in last five years [3].

2. R enewable Energy Potential

The Asian country has projected good potential for clean energy throughout the country. For the high percentage share of clean and sustainable energy sources, government and private firms have already instigated the stages for realizing the goal that has set for the subsequent ten years and it can be observed from Fig.3. From the latest power generation report, renewable energy supply 85,908 MW of power whereas 1,98,494 MW of power is generated from coal throughout the country till 31st December 2019 [4]. Considering all the installed capacity in India, each state has different geographical conditions in the generation of renewable power. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu are the leading states in solar energy installation in India as illustrated in Fig.4. Most of the states have approached for the installation of solar plants in collaboration with the private sector and thereby increasing the solar energy generation year by year [5].

Fig.3. Energy status of the last five years. (*till 31st Jan 2020) [5-9].

Page | 4

Fig.4 State-wise solar energy generation [5-9].

3. Solar Radiative Zone

The majority states in India receive 43 weeks of solar radiation energy, and its everyday solar energy average falls within the range of 3.8 to 6.6 kWh/m2 depending upon geographical location [10]. India receives about 1826- 5000 kWh/year of power from solar radiation, and maximum areas are harnessing 4.2 to 6.2 kWh/m2 power daily [11]. Among all the states in India, Rajasthan receives the highest amount of sun’s radiation about 5.2 to 6.6 kWh/m2 on a daily average basis. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh are also the states coming regions under high solar insolation with incident energy that varies from 5.8 to 6.2 kWh/m2 [12]. States having the most potential of solar radiation is indicated in Fig.5 [13].

Fig.5 Solar radiation [13].

4. Prospective of solar energy

India has undertaken one of the most ambitious and extensive renewable energy capacity enlargement programs globally. At the United Nations climate summit year in 2019, India stated that by 2022 it would increase its green energy target to 450 GW from 175 GW within the same year in 2019. In the target fixed by the government of India (GoI) for sustainable energy, radiation energy has given the utmost significance, and its generation and installation capacity has been rising [14]. The target of 100 GW has classified into two categories, 60 GW for grid-connected projects for both large and medium, and 40 GW for the rooftop. Through this, Asian nation will become leading pollution and carbon free energy consumer and producer in the world. Fig.6 clear indicates that the progress of solar energy and its installed capacity is almost contributing equally Page | 5 to wind energy in the year 2020 [9].

Fig.6. Contribution of solar and wind power in renewable energy (*till 31st Jan 2020) [5-9].

5. Solar Energy Utilization

The use of solar rooftop energy and the solar thermal systems is encouraged by developed countries. India is one of the top 10 countries globally in terms of solar energy generation as represented in fig.7 [15]. India has added 26,869 MW in the year 2018 which is 5.4% of total consumption. On comparing other countries, China with largest solar growth is sharing just 3.3%, European Union with 4.3%, Japan with 6.8%, and Germany with 7.9%, India’s percentage share of solar energy in total power consumption is higher than most of the developed countries [16].

Fig.7 Countries rank in solar energy generation[15-16].

6. Status of Solar Projects

Solar power contributes nearly 40% of energy to renewable energy and its share is increasing from the last 3 years which can be depicted from Fig.6. As of 31st January 2020, solar energy generation was 33,750 MW which is the total combine generation capacity of Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh states. In the last 3 years India has nearly doubled its solar power capacity from 17,052 MW in 2017 to 34,035 MW by January 2020 [7]. In a country like India were rural electrification is still being achieved and continuity of power supply is the biggest problem [17], the GoI has started off-grid solar photovoltaic programmes whose applications can be utilized for street and home lighting systems and pumps for agricultural use. To promote solar energy, the GoI under the Ministry of Power has launched [18], PM KUSUM [19] and [20]. Through this the government aims at achieving 100% rural electrification Page | 6 and decentralize solar PV use so that power is available for agricultural and industrial use thereby contributing to the economy of the country. The status of solar energy under solar mission and Saubhagya scheme is shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Table 1. National Solar Mission status [21]. Target Sanctioned Phases (MWp) (MWp) I 200 253 II 500 713 III 118 Ongoing

Table 2. Decentralized solar photovoltaic applications programme status [21].

System No. of units installed (Lakhs)

Solar Lamps/Lanterns 65,17,180 Solar Pumps 2,37,120 Solar Street Lights 6,71,832 Solar House-hold Lighting Systems 17,15,639

Solar has emerged as a solution for power deficient regions across the country. Sustainable growth, meet the nation’s power requirement, and a vital factor for energy security is the government agenda which it tries to achieve through this. To reduce the burden on coal based thermal power plant and to increase power share of solar power, the GoI has launched various schemes like Viability gap funding schemes, Solar park scheme, Defence scheme, Public sector undertaking scheme, Canal top and canal bank scheme, Solar rooftop scheme, Bundling scheme, etc. [22]. As a result, the cumulative capacity keeps adding up in every consecutive year which is shown in Fig.8 [22].

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Fig.8 Cumulative capacity added in the last 5 years [22].

To become a leader in green energy producer in the world, the GoI has launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2009 and declared a possible goal of 20 GW by the end of 2021 for transmission line network-connected project with three stages of the process as seen from table 1. [23-24]. GoI has decided on the further roadmap of solar energy by clarifying its stand in Electricity Act 2003, National Electricity Policy (NEP), and Tariff Policy of the year 2005. The contribution of electricity from sustainable energy sources needs to be augmented by state distribution agencies through a competitive procedure that comes underneath NEP 2005 [25- 26]. However, according to Tariff Policy 2006, it mentions that the relevant committee would select the share of power to be procured from renewable energy sources as per the capability and its effect on electricity tariffs in that region [27-28].

7. Technological Development

According to energy generation and consumption statistics, India is ranked at 3rd place globally [29-30]. Though the coal-based power plant emits a high percentage of carbon into the environment, the country receives two-third of power comes from coal. The rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) emission can be observed from Fig.9 [31-32]. India lies in the equator region and receives a tremendous amount of radiation in its area [10]. Under the Ministry of Commerce, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade published reports according to which Foreign Direct Investment stood at US$ 8 billion between the years 2000 and 2019 in the renewable energy sector of India. Since 2014, more than US$ 41 billion capital has been spent on India’s clean energy sector. In year 2018 itself, new investments in green energy in India stood at US$11 billion [33]. India being among the biggest solar energy market around attracts more and more globally recognized firms and entrepreneurs to invest in the field of solar. It is estimated to reduce more than 165 million tons of CO2 as per the new progressive goal of 100,000 MW set by the government [34]. As of May 2019, India has succeeded in becoming 5th country in solar power generation across the world [15]. Battery storage problem, land settlements along with new investment are some of the issues which the government would like to settle for the smooth progress of the solar sector in the country. From the state-wise generation report, it can be observed that the solar power installation rate is different for each state, while some states are moving ahead with a quicker pace as compared to others [5-9]. With the tariff of solar power falling to new low, which can be seen from fig.10, it is a sign of significant worry for investors as it increases its recovery period for the project [35-37]. In December 2017, union authorities introduced the relevant hints for tariff based complete solar energy auctions to deliver added clarity and minimize the risk to the investors [38]. With more opportunities, the contribution of private sectors is increasing more than the government enterprise in solar energy sectors. Initiative taken by the Rajasthan government is remarkable as it has signed memorandum of understanding with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Solar Energy Corporation Page | 8 of India (SECI) to set 5000 MW renewable energy plants in the state. The move would prove to be a significant lift to Prime Minister ’s determined goal to establish 175 GW renewable energy installation within the country by the year 2022 [39]. Fig.11 gives an idea of the efforts taken by the government to reduce its conventional energy growth rate [5-9]. The National Institution for Transforming India Ayog in its working paper regarding India’s Energy and Emission Outlook clearly states that the GoI had set a target of 45% power generation from clean energy sources by 2030 [40]. Ayog had specified in its objectives under the mission to take critical steps to battle environmental changes [41].

Fig.9 Carbon emission [31-32].

Fig.10 Solar Energy Tariff [35-37].

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Fig.11 Conventional energy generation growth. (*till 31st Jan 2020) [5-9].

Solar thermal electricity is another way to extract power from radiation rather than depending upon solar photovoltaic. Currently India generates 227MW of power form solar thermal power plants. Technology exchange programme is needed between India and other developed countries for capacity building. Solar thermal storage can be reliable energy source as it minimizes the discrepancy between power demand and supply [42-43]. India as of January 2020 is a world leader in advocacy and adoption of cleaner energy systems to power sustainable development of communities [44-45]. India co-founded the ISA in 2015 to speed the growth and installation of solar energy worldwide. 64 Member Countries of 85 Signatories have ratified ISA’s Framework Agreement. ISA’s Membership is set to be opened to United Nations Member Countries, making it a truly global initiative [46].

8. Conclusion

The prospective of power generation is immense from solar radiation. The research on efficient design of photovoltaic and concentrated plates can be beneficial to utilize maximum incident solar radiation. Enlargement of solar-based power with the local systems is a positive step forward in the realization of solar energy potential. The installation and integration of remotely located solar power plants with regional load centers can increase the dependability of power for the rural areas. Through dynamic auctioning of power, government is resolute to balance the investors and consumers. With 34GW of power generation from solar, India is putting stepping stone in decreasing the environmental impact made by carbon footprint and further addition of solar thermal storage plants can reduce its dependability on coal-based power plants.

ORCID ID of authors

Anand Vijay Satpute: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2425-3032 E Vijay Kumar: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1829-5276

Acknowledgement

One of the authors, Anand Vijay Satpute, expresses his sincere gratitude to Dr. Dipen Kumar Rajak, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SITRC, Nashik for supporting this manuscript through his valued remarks and recommendations to enhance it.

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