Solar Power Project

Presented By

MVS Ravi Kumar

Present Scenario
India's power sector has a total installed
capacity of approximately 1,52,148 Megawatt (MW) 64.4% is coal-based, 24.7% hydro, 8% is renewables and the balance is the gas and nuclear-based. Power shortages are estimated at about 11% of total energy and 15% of peak capacity requirements and are likely to increase in the coming years.

Contd
In the next 10 years, another 10,000 MW
of capacity and investment of about Rs. 24 lakh crore are required.

Climatic Conditions
Fortunately, India lies in sunny regions of the
world. Most parts of India receive 4-7 kWh of Solar radiation per square metre per day with 250-300 sunny days in a year. India has abundant Solar resources, as it receives about 3000 hours of sunshine every year, equivalent to over 5,000 trillion kWh. Today the contribution of Solar power with an installed capacity of 9.84 MW, is a fraction (< 0.1 percent) of the total renewable energy installed 13, 242.41(as on 31st October 2008 by MNRE).

Continued
Solar power generation has lagged behind other
sources like wind, small hydropower, biomass etc. But now realizing the potential of Solar energy, Prime Minister of India unveiled a National Climate Change Action Plan in June 2008. The plan will be implemented through eight missions with main focus on Solar energy in the total energy mix of the country.

Challenges & Constraints

High Capital Cost Manufacturing Process

Raw Material and Waste Products

Environmental Costs

High Capital Cost

The hunt for better, cheaper Solar cells is due in
India. Despite the fact that the price of Solar Photovoltaic technology has been coming down over the years it still remains economically unviable for power generation purposes. The average cost of Solar PV modules was around Rs. 2 lakhs per kW. the estimated unit cost of generation of electricity from Solar Photovoltaic and Solar thermal route is in the range of Rs. 12 -20 per kWh and Rs. 10 - 15 per kWh respectively in India.

Contd
With present level of technology, Solar
electricity produced through the Photovoltaic conversion route is 4-5 times costlier than the electricity obtained from conventional fossil fuels.

Manufacturing Process
Solar PV cell manufacturing is a technologyintensive process requiring high expertise and know-how. Solar PV cell manufacturing is a technologyintensive process requiring high expertise and know-how. It is challenging for new entrants to replicate the success of companies having a long standing in the Solar PV market.

Raw Material and Waste Products

Some of the materials (like Cadmium) used for
producing Solar PV cells are hazardous and other raw materials like plastics used for the packaging of the cells are non-biodegradable, thereby impacting the environment. Although some of the wastage generated during the manufacturing process is recyclable (silicon), not all other materials are recyclable and disposal of the same is a challenging process.

Environmental Costs
Another concern area is installing Solar cells on
the land area. The large amount of land required for utility-scale Solar power plants approximately one square kilometer for every 20-60 MW generated - poses an additional problem in India. Instead, Solar energy in particular requires unique, massive applications in the agricultural sector, where farmers need electricity exclusively in the daytime. This could be the primary demand driver for Solar energy in India.

Contd
In the very near future, breakthroughs in
nanotechnologies promise significant increase in Solar cell efficiencies from current 15% values to over 50% levels. These would in turn reduce the cost of Solar energy production. However, capital costs have substantially declined over the past two decades, with Solar PV costs declining by a factor of two.

Contd
PV is projected to continue its current
rapid cost reductions for the next decades to compete with fossil fuel. However, the realization of cost reductions is naturally closely linked to market development, government policies, and support for research and development.

Facts
Energy produced by the Sun in 1 Second is
equal to A Trillion of 1 megaton bomb each. Sun sends 15,000 times as much energy to the Earth as we consume worldwide on a daily basis. India received 3,000 hours of sunshine every year. India is ranked 4 in production and installation of Solar Water heating systems.

FactsContd.
Growth of Solar PV worldwide from 202
MW in 1999 to GW in 2007 CAGR 46%, 69% in 2006-07. Indias theoretical solar potential is about 5000 T kWh per year. Total solar energy absorbed by Earths atmosphere, oceans and land masses is 3850 ZettaJoules (ZJ) per year.

Price worries
Germany, for instance, has a huge focus
on solar, and Spain added 4.4 gigawatts of solar power in a year. The cost of solar power is about Rs.15.50 per watt, while thermal and hydro power range between Rs.2.75 to Rs.3.50 per watt.