Rural India offers a whopping Rs 3,000 crore opportunity for ‘solar entrepreneurs’. With the government doing its bit, the sector is all set to light up
The power of Sun finds mention in Indian epics such as the Mahabharata in which unmarried Kunti bears Sun’s invincible child Karna, one of the central figures in the epic.
Bearing children may be the stuff of epics, but there is enough power in the sun to light up thousands of homes. Quantification of the power would yield electrical energy worth over Rs 300,000 crore. If a mere one percent of this is utilized to light up rural India, ‘solar entrepreneurs’ would be able to rake in Rs 3,000 crore.
| DARE/scope | ||
| Opportunity | Scale | Nature of engagement |
| Solar products | Small and medium | Private |
| Solar farms/power plants | Medium and large | Private and public-private partnership |
| Solar townships | Large | Public-private partnership |
The reason why we are talking rural is because with the present technology and current prices of electrical energy in the country, a full-blown conversion to solar energy would prove very expensive, ranging from five times to a mind-boggling 20 times! Inadequate technology combined with expensive setups, are some of the biggest bottlenecks to the commercialization of products and services based on solar energy. We cannot, of course, bank on fossil fuels, unless we want oil prices to break all barriers!
When the question of covering the last mile crops up, the cost factor is somewhat overshadowed by factors such as infrastructure, ease of setup, portability, durability, etc., which is why solar energy is beginning to get preference over conventional energy sources for remote and rural areas of the country. For once, the bureaucracy is taking action while the iron is still hot. The government is now focusing at both micro and macro levels to bring succor to rural India. At a micro level, it is encouraging the use of solar products such as solar lanterns, torches, heaters, cookers, etc.; and at a macro level, it is laying the groundwork for private participation in providing solar street lighting, and even in constructing solar townships.
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Technology
Almost all technologies currently available for the conversion and utilization of solar energy can be categorized under the umbrella of photovoltaic (PV) or thermal conversion, out of which the photovoltaic technology is the more popular choice. Solar thermal power, on the other hand, is somewhat cumbersome and its suitability is on a case-to-case basis.
PV technology relies on direct solar-to-electrical energy conversion using solar cells made of silicon wafers doped with required impurities. The average conversion efficiency is around 10-15% although research is on to rev it up to 28%, which is supposed to be the theoretical limit. Solar cells, or PV panels, are available in fixed dimensions and power output. When connected to a switchboard through an inverter with corresponding power specifications, it makes a complete system. PV cells can be used on a small scale using a couple of solar panels, perhaps installed on a rooftop, or on a larger scale through solar farms comprising rows and rows of such panels and connected to a grid.
Solar thermal technology employs the heat energy generated by solar collectors, mostly solar reflectors, to produce steam, which in turn, is used to rotate turbines, thereby producing electricity. Such solar thermal plants are usually grid connected at small or large scales.
| DARE/scope |
| Advantages |
| Portability |
| Ease of setup |
| Possible on smaller scales |
| Can be stand-alone or grid connected |
Value chain and the offshoots
Opportunities for solar startups lie at every step of the value chain. Under product manufacturing, production and supply of PV cells and the raw material, that is, silicon holds great promise. According to industry estimates, revenues obtained from PV technology are over Rs 38,000 crore globally and are expected to rise to over Rs 89,000 crore by 2012. Globally, the demand for PV cells is such that there is a shortage of raw material. The global silicon shortage is acting as a necessity that is mothering the invention of alternatives, what have come to be known as plastic solar cells. Research is still underway. To the rescue have also come thin-film technologies. Nano-deposits of semiconductor material on glass and polymer foils are able to simulate the actual solar-electrical energy conversion to quite an extent. Again, research on these alternative technologies is still going on.
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written by UJJAWAL KIRAR, March 14, 2011
written by Brij, February 25, 2011
regards.
written by Sayantan Das, February 13, 2011
My contact No. is 919433535305
email - sayanta_07@yahoo.co.in
written by ashwani kumar, January 31, 2011
thanks.
written by Solar Business, November 11, 2010
There are really only two types of solar integrators: one makes money, and the other…..just makes sales. Which one do you want to be?
Visit us at http://www.solarbusinessblueprint.com and just leave your company or personal email and we will reach you.
written by Antony Thomas, November 09, 2010
written by sriharsh, October 03, 2010
and contact no is 9951024446
written by Deepak Dave, September 25, 2010
written by Mukesh Kumar Tiwari, August 25, 2010
written by Prashant Gogi, August 22, 2010
i am located in solapur. is it possible to start this sort of industry here.
Contact 9890214989
written by kn nagar, August 05, 2010
contact 09039449767
written by parthasarathy sundararajan, March 01, 2010
Regards, Partha
written by Sameer, November 23, 2009
written by Mohit Bhushan, April 22, 2009
WE PROVIDE SOLAR OUT DOOR LIGHTS FOR COMMON HOUSEHOLDS, FLOOD LIGHTS FOR STREETS/INDUSTRIES AND WATER PROOF LIGHTS FOR SWMIMMING POOLS.
If you need any informotion/Detail kindly contact us: mohit@iba-co.com
Thanks Again
Mohit Bhushan
+91-9810292442
written by sumit sanghvi, April 07, 2009
written by kartik, December 27, 2008
written by Mihir Shingala, December 17, 2008
written by wilson, November 08, 2008
written by Gaurav Shah, October 22, 2008
Just to inform future readers of this article, i have just started my venture into Solar LED street Lights and Energy Efficiency solutions and it has picked up really well in the short span of 4 months.
We are also doing R&D for furthur enhancing efficiecy of LED lights and Solar Panels, furthur reducing down the cost by appx 8-12%. Our future plans are to get directly into Solar PV Power Plants with our patented technology to reduce its cost by 8% than current cost
info@electricksolutions.com
written by vivek shrivastav, October 15, 2008
at that time i always a quere in my mind how?when? gov take steps? well its very long time passes away now i am 29,12 long years i did spend, and i didnt done any thing very special thats i loves too do. but now i find lots of projects , companines, products thats can solve india basic even worlds energy problem. but very long way to go.......any ways its encouraging me to do work in this sectore.
but i am very confused, if any body helps me then plzzz mail me
written by Zahid Memon, October 02, 2008
Thank you.
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