Solar Energy -Solution of Indias Power Problems? Fossil Fuel Thermal Power Plants account for more than 70% power generation in India. Primarily Coal-based Thermal Power Plants dominate the Power Scenario with nearly 55% of overall power generation share. With the recent hike in Coal prices or in general fossil fuels - including Petrol - there is no other time better than now to look at Alternative options. There are mainly 2 issues with Coal - Availability and Cost. Coal availability is forcing Indian Power Cos. to look at imported coal and overseas mine acquisitions. Even this looks far from solving the issue as seen in case of Tatas Mundra power project where the Indonesian Govt. increased taxes on Coal export. Despite demands from the Power Company to renegotiate Power Purchase Agreement terms the State Government is reluctant to give in. Central Government is trying to do its bit by reducing duty on imported coal but then International coal prices are on an upswing. The recent attempt by the Central Government to arm twist Coal India to sign Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) with Power Companies has indeed boosted the spirits of the Power Companies - but at what cost? Even if the FSAs are signed it would ensure availability. But the high cost of imported Coal would be transferred to power Companies and in turn to the consumers who are already reeling under the pressure of inflation, blackouts and brownouts. ogically an abundance of a resource justifies its dominant utilization in any Country or a region. For instance India was indeed a Coal-rich Country - once upon a time. However due to rapid development of new Thermal Power Plants for increasing demand coupled with rapid growth of Industries relying on Coal - the reserves have gone down significantly with nearly 100 years reserve a few years back the present figure is much lesser. The rapid downward momentum is expected to continue. Not to forget the other challenges in the Indian Power Sector especially on Infrastructure - Logistics for Coal Supply, Transmission & Distribution, ATC Losses, Power Thefts, Power Wastage / Losses etc. So what should be the next logical step for solving the power problem of the Country facing a peak power deficit of 10-12%? We do not have to look far for an answer as it is quite obvious. Solar Energy - one which has significant benefits over not only fossil fuel plants but also over other renewable technologies. Traditionally being used for heating water - Solar Energy is now seriously being looked at as a source for Power Generation. Solar Energy is a generic term which refers to the Light Energy and Heat Energy of the Sun. Last decade has witnessed significant developments in Solar Water Heating - at household level as well as Community and Industrial level. Power generation could either be through Solar Thermal or Solar Photo Voltaic. A Solar Thermal Power Plant uses concentrated Thermal energy of the Sun to generate super-heated steam to run turbines for generating power. Although green - Solar Thermal Power has its own challenges and drawbacks - mainly water required for operations and thermal storage. Solar Photo Voltaic Power Plant uses Light energy of the Sun to directly generate power - without any steam generation. It works on the Photo Voltaic Principle i.e. when photons strike the Photo Voltaic Panel these photons let loose the electrons within the PV panel to generate electrical power.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:42:43 +0000
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