SOLAR ENERGY IN INDIA

Introduction

India is highly suitable geography to generate solar power. The country receives 250-300 days of sunshine per year. India is also among the leading countries having a high Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), which is solar radiation coming in a straight line. The potential of solar energy is a whooping 5000 trillion kWh per year! India’s solar power journey started off as early as 1950 and has been an exciting journey in these past 69 years.

Photo by Angie Warren on Unsplash

Past Policies

India’s major policy discussions have always happened in the Five-Year Plans (FYP) that have been released from the year 1951 onwards. The first discussion of solar technology happened in the 6^th FYP from 1980-1985. This was the first instance where solar energy development and implementation were specifically addressed. This led to the inception and formation of the Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (DNES) which operated under the purview of the Ministry of Energy.”

The Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) was formed in 1981 with an objective to promote and develop Renewable Energy Sources. The commission encouraged and supplied funds for various research and development activities in the sector by creating effective policies of implementation.

·        The first program that was launched was for the manufacturing & sale of 10,000 solar cookers. These cookers were heavily subsidized and were sold in 12 states and 1 union territory.

·     Solar Thermal Energy Centre (STEC) was established with the sole intent of driving research, innovation, testing, and demo activities to encourage the commercial production of solar thermal devices and systems.

·       During this period, solar heaters and solar pumps were designed, manufactured and were pushed towards institutionalization.

The 7^th FYP led from 1985-1990 to BHEL being awarded the responsibility of executing a plant to manufacture 500 kW of modules per annum and to drive research in order to achieve cell efficiency of 13-15%.

The 8^th FYP from 1992-1997 had the government pushing the electrification of 10,000 villages in rural India through non-conventional energy sources with a focus on generating energy for cooking and heating purposes.

·       Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) was created in 1987 to operate a revolving fund for the development and promotion of renewable sources of energy for the sake of commercialization.”

The 9^th FYP opened up the participation of the private sector in the renewable game. The public policy permitted companies to set up plants of any capacity for wind or solar power.

With the advent of the 21^st century, the government has started rolling out multiple policies and plans to encourage the mainstream use of the solar policy.

Current Challenges

1.   Technical Challenges: The sector faces storage issues, inadequacy and unreliability of DNI data and many more problems. Continuous technological challenges of efficiency and design have prevented solar energy from becoming a mainstream source of power.

2.    Policy & Regulatory challenges: The sector is missing strong policies for market creation and capital grants. There is a lack of adequate implementation/enforcement of policies. Investors cite a lack of financial incentives and raise a hue and cry over the fact that fossil fuels are still easily accessible and cheap for the masses.

3.     Socio-economic challenges: Lack of awareness, high initial capital cost, weak industry networks have had a strong impact on the development and progress of this particular sector. The market is not mature enough despite the government’s efforts.

SOLAR ENERGY IN FRANCE

Introduction

In France, solar energy is used mainly for two purposes: electricity production (photovoltaic solar energy or thermodynamic solar energy) or heat production (thermal solar energy).

France has the fifth-highest potential for sunshine in Europe, but only 1.6% of its electricity production comes from solar energy, compared to 6% for Germany and 3.5% for the United Kingdom. In terms of installed capacity, in 2018 it ranked 9th in the world and 4th in Europe.

Photo by Andreas Gücklhorn on Unsplash

Past Policies

From the first Act of 10 February 2000, solar energy support policies took the form of obligations for electricity suppliers to purchase these energies at a regulated rate; the extra cost of this regulated rate compared to the market price is reimbursed to the electricity supplier through a tax on electricity bills called the contribution to the public electricity service.

·       Suppliers will now buy the electricity produced at a decreased tariff. Each trimester the per kWh price will reduce a little which will depend on two factors:

•       The size of the production structure: 0-10 MW; 9-36 MW; 36-100 MW; above 100 MW.
•           Whether the solar panels are directly integrated into the construction or not. Constructions integrated from the beginning will benefit from higher prices.

·       On 7 January 2013, the Minister of Ecology and Energy announced the doubling of the objectives set for 2030 in terms of installed photovoltaic MW. Innovative technologies such as concentrated photovoltaics or trackers, as well as more mature technologies such as parking shades,  are encouraged.

·       The 2015 « Law on energy transition for green growth ». It has declared as a priority to « Promote renewable energies to diversify our energies and develop the resources of our territories ». The purchase obligation for the solar energy sector has been encouraged. The 2006 tariffs will continue to apply to certain kinds of projects submitted in late 2009, before 11 January 2010, and certain small- and medium-sized projects in the agricultural sector.

Current Challenges

1.     Policy & Regulatory challenges: According to the Ministry of Ecological Transition in France regulation to promote the development of the sector still needs improvement. In the new collective and tertiary market, the absence of a renewable energy obligation in the 2012 regulation for collective housing does not accelerate the development of the sector. The regulations relative to the thermal regulations of new homes should encourage the use of renewable energies in single-family homes.

2.     Technical Challenges: Improve quality and reduce costs of solar energy in France which remain, albeit the various subsidies, sometimes unaffordable for some firms or individuals.

3.     Socio-economic challenges: As in India, lack of awareness. Also, some people are afraid of the poor efficiency of solar energy. Media campaigns could help change this state of mind.