In 2015 when India announced that 40 per cent of the 100 GW of solar power targeted under the National Solar Mission (NSM) 2022 will be sourced from solar rooftop (SRT) systems, the task appeared simple. Although large solar farms, which are responsible for generating 60 per cent of the target under NSM, are a cost-effective way of harnessing solar energy, the idea of sourcing one’s own electricity just by putting panels on the rooftop is alluring. However, with two years to the deadline, SRT sector appears nowhere near the target.
Data with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) shows that by December 2019 the country has added only 2.3 GW from grid-connected SRT systems. “We have actually managed to install 1.9 GW of grid-connected SRT systems under NSM,” Aujender Singh, deputy secretary, MNRE, tells Down To Earth. “It’s a mistake to place the SRT sector in a silo,” Singh says, suggesting to increase the scope of large solar farms to meet the 100 GW target.
The suggestion sounds bizarre at a time when countries worldwide are promoting SRT systems. For instance, SRT systems account for 57 per cent of Australia’s total solar power capacity. The figures are over 70 per cent for Germany, 36 per cent for the US and almost 50 percent for Brazil. Then why is the SRT sector not able to take off in India? Understanding this is important at a time when the government is rolling out phase-II of Grid Connected Rooftop (gcrt) Solar Programme to give new impetus to the SRT sector.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
