India is one of the most populated countries on the planet and therefore, the energy demands of the country are quite enormous. Greenhouse gas emissions are prevalent as most of the energy used in our country comes from coal and in fact, India trails only China and United States in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. By 2030, India is expected to convert to 60% renewable energy in its electricity sector; however, studies have shown that the country could go further beyond this to reduce its energy costs with the help of renewables.
Due to industrialization and economic development happening at an expeditious rate, the energy consumption has been increasing and it is being predicted that the rising energy demands may outpace the energy production. Solar energy is considered to be the most feasible, environment-friendly energy option for India to cater to the energy requirements of everyone. A major percentage of India’s rural inhabitants still live without electricity and solar-powered lights and appliances can be the simple solution to this problem.
Geographical Advantage of India
India falls in the tropical region and receives ample amount of solar radiation throughout the year amounting to an average of 300 sunny days. This geographical location makes the country capable enough to produce sufficient energy to meet not only its own requirements but also adequate solar energy for the rest of the world. Five states have been identified with extensive amounts of potential to tap solar energy because of their strategic location. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat are observed to have the capacity to produce abundant quantity of electricity even on overcast days.
Worth the Investment
Many individuals and businesses have already taken to installing solar lights to meet their energy requirements but there is still a long way to go before India becomes a complete solar nation. People are usually hesitant to purchase solar systems since they are relatively more expensive. However, with solar panels having a lifespan of around 25 years, solar lights help save money in the long run making it worth the investment. Solar lights are independent of any grid electricity and eliminate installation and operation costs as they work purely on free solar energy.
Escalating Energy Prices
Because of the growing population and economic growth, energy demands of the country are increasing on a day to day basis, hence the escalating energy prices. There is more focus on sustainability now and investing in renewable energy such as solar energy can be a crucial component of India’s energy profile in the near future. Non-renewable energy sources like coal are hard to obtain and solar energy is developing at a fast pace. Solar gives you energy security and protection against energy price hikes making your energy bills more predictable.
Employment Prospects
The Government of India has come up with various policies and subsidies to promote the use of solar energy and boost solar power generation. The government also plans to decrease the capital expenditure to make it economically suitable for both big and small entrepreneurs to collaborate with India’s solar power franchise. India’s open market system has encouraged foreign investors to enter the solar energy sector of the country. More and more job opportunities are being created and India’s incessant unemployment problem can definitely get better with more doors being open in the solar energy market.
The Future of Solar Lights
Solar lights are evolving constantly in their efficiency and cost effectiveness and the solar panels will become more affordable and accessible in the future to everyone. The socioeconomic benefits of solar energy are being more visible to people now and the need to utilize your energy without hurting your environment is of utmost importance in the current scenario. Of late, the potential of solar street light is being recognized by a large number of people and both all in one and integrated solar street lights are being used for public and private lighting.
Polycrystalline or monocrystalline solar panels are commonly used for solar energy conversion now. Research and developments are still being continued to create more efficient and commercially viable solar panels. The future of solar panels will include organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells in order to provide greater efficiency while reducing the environmental impact of solar panels. With the help of nano technology, solar panels can be more flexible and lightweight and potentially less expensive. Ultra-slim solar cells developed by MIT in 2016 could be the future of solar panels in widening the use of solar technology.
From heavy, high-maintenance lead acid batteries, solar street lights have come a long way and now use energy-efficient lithium-ion or LiFePO4 batteries that are integrated into the solar lighting system. In the future, we may see batteries that are much lighter in weight with better storage capacity and with continuous and extensive advancements in solar energy technology, solar lights will be available for a cheaper price in the future. All in one solar street lights have gained a lot of popularity as they can be installed without any professional help and we can expect better motion sensor features and elegant designs in the coming decades.
India is an ideal location for solar market due to the combination of abundant availability of sunlight and the large population. A huge number of corporations have ventured into the solar sector now throughout various states of the country. With more support from the Government of India and with affordable solar equipment, more consumers and businesses will be motivated to invest into renewable energy growth.