ROLE OF ENERGY SYSTEMS IN IMPROVING SOLAR POWER RELIABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Solar energy is increasingly seen as a key player in the fight against climate change, thanks to its clean, renewable nature.

- Tanmoy Duari

Globally, countries are investing heavily in solar infrastructure to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. In India, solar power is especially critical, as the country seeks to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets. Yet, while solar power holds great promise, it faces a significant obstacle: reliability. Because solar energy generation depends on sunlight, it's inconsistent—clouds, nighttime, and seasonal changes reduce its output. This is where energy systems play a crucial role in addressing the weaknesses of solar power and enhancing its overall performance.

Let's take a deep dive into how modern energy systems are improving solar power's reliability and what that means both globally and in India.

The Challenge of Intermittency: Why Solar Alone Isn't Enough The main challenge with solar energy is intermittency—its dependence on sunlight. Solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining, meaning energy production can drop dramatically during cloudy weather, at night, or during the winter months. Globally, the capacity factor (how much energy a system produces versus its maximum potential) of solar panels ranges between 15% and 30%. In India, where sunlight is abundant, this number is slightly higher, but even here, energy production dips in the monsoon season.

India is aiming for 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with a significant portion coming from solar. However, without addressing solar's unreliability, it will be tough to provide consistent power to India's growing population and industrial sectors. This intermittency can lead to power shortages, putting pressure on the grid and forcing reliance on coal or other fossil fuels as backup—a problem that contradicts the clean energy goals solar power is supposed to serve.