Solar Energy to Meet Power Demand

• 07 May 2024

Why in News?

The Rajasthan government is looking to increase dependence on solar energy from the current 12-14% to over 40% of consumption by 2030 to bridge the power gap.

Key Points

• With urbanisation and industrial growth, electricity demand in the state may increase by 8 to 10% every year.
  • In the next five years, the scheme for promoting solar production centres among the government and private sector and the rooftop solar plants scheme will be promoted.
  • These efforts will also reduce dependence on coal-based plants.
• According to the plan, subsidised rooftop systems are to be installed at 500,000 houses in the first phase of PM Suryaghar Yojana in the state.
  • In 2023-24, Rajasthan’s commissioned solar capacity was over 1,296 megawatt (Mw), according to the state’s renewable energy website, with the best year being 2021-2022 when the commissioned solar energy was over 5,398 Mw. The state had over 15,195 Mw of aggregate solar capacity till December 2023.
• Rajasthan’s solar energy generation potential has been assessed at 142 Gw.
  • The state has vast untapped potential in terms of intense solar radiation with one of the highest number of sunny days in a year and availability of vast unutilised government and private land.
  • This has the potential to make Rajasthan a highly preferred destination for solar energy production.

PM Surya Ghar Yojana

• It is a pioneering government initiative aimed at installing rooftop solar power systems in one crore households across the nation.
• Rooftop solar panels are photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of a building that is connected to the main power supply unit.
• It reduces the consumption of grid-connected electricity and saves electricity costs for the consumer.
  • Surplus solar power units generated from the rooftop solar plant can be exported to the grid as per the metering provisions.
  • The consumer can receive monetary benefits for the surplus exported power as per the prevailing regulations.