India’s Solar Energy Revolution: Innovations and Government Initiatives
In New Delhi, Prashant Kumar, Secretary of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, highlighted the growing importance of solar energy as a cost-effective power source. Speaking at the High-level Conference on New Technologies for Clean Energy Transition, he noted that traditional silicon-based photovoltaic panels have long been central to solar power. However, innovations like perovskite solar cells are transforming the energy landscape.
The cost of solar power has significantly decreased from Rs 7.04 per unit in 2015-16 to below Rs 3 per unit for many photovoltaic-based production units. Kumar also addressed the challenge of energy storage, emphasizing advancements in battery technologies, including lithium-ion, solid-state, and flow batteries, which offer longer lifespans and scalability.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi discussed the impact of rising demand for solar technology on local manufacturing and small industries. He stressed the importance of storage technologies for utilizing excess energy during cloudy days or at night. The government has launched initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, aiming to power 1 crore households with solar energy, backed by a Rs 75,000 crore investment.
India’s renewable energy strategy includes the National Green Hydrogen Mission, PM-KUSUM, and PLI schemes for solar PV modules, targeting 500 GW of non-fossil electric capacity by 2030. These efforts aim to position India as a global leader in renewable energy, addressing climate change and resource conservation.
Doubts Revealed
Solar Energy -: Solar energy is the power we get from the sun. It can be used to make electricity and is a clean and renewable source of energy.
Perovskite Solar Cells -: Perovskite solar cells are a new type of solar panel that can be cheaper and more efficient than traditional ones. They are named after a special crystal structure called perovskite.
Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy -: This is a part of the Indian government that focuses on developing and promoting new and renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Energy Storage -: Energy storage means saving energy for later use. It’s important for solar energy because the sun doesn’t shine all the time, so we need to store energy for when it’s dark.
Pralhad Joshi -: Pralhad Joshi is an Indian politician who is currently serving as a Union Minister. He talks about how solar energy can help the economy by creating jobs and saving money.
1 crore households -: 1 crore is a way to say 10 million in India. The government wants to provide solar energy to 10 million homes.
500 GW -: GW stands for gigawatt, which is a unit to measure electricity. 500 GW is a huge amount of electricity, and India aims to produce this much from non-fossil sources like solar by 2030.
