India’s Rooftop Solar Potential

Context

In recent years, India has seen remarkable growth in rooftop solar (RTS) capacity, marking a pivotal shift towards sustainable energy solutions. As of March 31, 2024, India’s RTS capacity reached 11.87 GW, with an increase of 2.99 GW in the fiscal year 2023-2024 alone. This growth underscores the country’s commitment to leveraging solar power to meet its burgeoning electricity demands sustainably.

Current Landscape and Potential

India has a fairly large roof top photovoltaic potential of about 796 GW which indicates the scope that the country has for using solar energy from rooftops. To make the above 500 GW by 2030 plan of renewable energy, out of which 280GW from solar power, RTS has planned to install a capacity of 100 GW by the end of this decade.

Overview of Rooftop Solar Systems

Rooftop solar systems are solar electricity systems which incorporate solar panels on the roof tops and offer a decentralised manner of electricity production. These vary between 5 kW and 100 kW plus; they are used in both domestic and commercial applications. This approach not only cuts down the costs of electricity bills, but also makes good use of barren rooftops such that they do not go to waste.

Government Initiatives and Policies

The country’s first major attempt at triggering solar energy growth was the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission begun in 2010. The mission has defined the objectives for phases till 2026 and has unveiled verticals like SUPRABHA and SRISTI to promote solar. Government policies, economic factors, and promotional activities also helped to strengthen the sector.

State Performance and Achievements

RTS is largest in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan due to Ofcom policy, simple approval mechanisms, and consumers’ awareness. India’s first village of solar energy is located in Modhera Gujarat with 1300 1 kW RTS systems signifying the horizon of revolutionising lives.

Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

However, bureaucratic issues, unavailability or insufficient development of infrastructure, low level of public awareness remain a problem. Schemes like the Muft Bijli Yojana are to popularise RTS systems by promising to install RTS systems in one crore households in a way to give up to 300 units of free electricity per month and by adding 20 GW of RTS capacity by deploying one RTS system of 2 kW per household.

Future Directions

To accelerate RTS growth, comprehensive awareness campaigns, economic viability through low-cost financing, and investments in research and development are crucial. Training programs like ‘Suryamitra’ play a pivotal role in building a skilled workforce, while policy updates on net-metering and grid integration standards ensure seamless integration into the national energy framework.

Conclusion

India’s journey towards harnessing rooftop solar potential signifies a sustainable, decentralized, and affordable solution to its growing electricity needs. With concerted efforts from government, industry, and society, rooftop solar not only reduces carbon emissions and energy costs but also enhances energy security, making it a cornerstone of India’s renewable energy future.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. Which of the following statements about India’s rooftop solar potential are correct?

1. India has the technical potential to deploy 637 GW of solar energy capacity on residential rooftops across over 25 crore households.
2. 60% of the residential rooftop potential is concentrated in just seven states – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
3. Rural areas show higher technical potential (363 GW) compared to urban areas (274 GW) across states.
4. India has already achieved its target of installing 40 GW of rooftop solar capacity by 2022 under the National Solar Mission.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a) 1, 2 and 3 only

b) 2, 3 and 4 only

c) 1, 3 and 4 only

d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans – “a”

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