Solar Energy Commission proposed

Aarti Dhar

NEW DELHI: The Centre proposes to set up a Solar Energy Commission, with equal participation from the private sector.

It is to tap the solar energy potential for meeting the future energy needs of the country.

The initial investment for the project will be around $ 10 billion.

Autonomous body

The Commission, on the lines of the Atomic Energy Commission, will be an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology.

It will be responsible for the deployment of commercial and near-commercial solar technologies.

It will establish a solar research facility at an existing establishment to coordinate research and development activities being carried out in the public and private sectors.

Solar collectors

It is estimated that just about 2 per cent of India's land mass under solar collectors, at current efficiency levels, could meet the country's entire energy requirements even 25 years from now.

Together with indirect solar energy, this potential source of clean energy holds the promise of energy independence for India.

India is endowed with a rich solar resource exceeding 1600 kWh/m2 per annum.

The Commission will be responsible for realising integrated private sector manufacturing capacity for solar material, cells and modules, networking of Indian research efforts with international initiatives with a view to promoting collaborative research and acquiring and adapting technology, besides establishing a regulatory framework and providing funding available under the global climate mechanisms.

Coverage target

Over the next 7-10 years, the Commission will aim to deliver at least 80 per cent coverage for all low temperature (less than 150 degrees Celsius) and at least 60 per cent coverage for medium temperature (150 to 250 degrees Celsius) applications of solar energy in all urban areas, industries and commercial establishments.

Rural solar thermal applications will also be pursued under private-public partnership, wherever feasible. Commensurate local manufacturing capacity to meet this level of deployment, with necessary technology tie-up, will also be established.

Solar energy conversion systems fall into three categories according to their primary energy production: solar electricity, solar thermal systems and solar fuels. The untapped energy potential of each of these three generic approaches is well beyond current usage levels.

The challenges

The main challenges before the government are to reduce the cost/watt of electricity to compete with fossil and nuclear electricity, identifying cost-effective methods to convert sunlight into storable, dispatchable thermal energy that bridges the diurnal cycle and to produce chemical fuels directly from sunlight that could be used as cheap solar fuel.

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