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Solar Tower technology has gained considerable momentum over the past decade. Unlike the parabolic trough, Solar Tower has a lot of variants in terms of type of receivers, working fluids, power cycles, size of heliostats, etc. Most of the literature available on this technology does not address in great depths, details of various parameters associated with tower technology. A detailed examination of plant parameters is required in order to perform a potential assessment, design basis or feasibility analysis. This paper aims to assess the principal parameters of existing plants, namely, solar to electric conversion efficiency, mirror and land area per MW e of equivalent capacity, packing density, field layout configuration, receiver size, tower height and gross costs of plants, wherever data is available. Based on this global review of existing plants, it is observed that, the annual solar to electric conversion efficiencies has an average value of 16% and the packing density has an average value of about 20%. Since most of the existing plants have been constructed for demonstration purposes, the true potential of this technology has not yet been realised. Using this assessment as a basis, the technical, financial and policy drivers and barriers for adopting tower technology in India are discussed. It is seen that based on indigenisation prospects, tower technology with external cylindrical or cavity receivers with storage could be adopted. The role and significance of this technology is brought out in the context of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in order to achieve grid-connected solar power. It is estimated that around 1800 MW of grid connected Solar Tower plants could come up under this mission by 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing energy demands and commitments in relation to climate change have accelerated the deployment of solar power globally, especially in India. Grid-connected solar capacity in the country has increased ∼11 times in just five years, from 2.6 GW in March 2014 to 28.18 GW in March 2019. However, this development has inevitably also led to the emergence of significant volumes of solar photovoltaic (PV) waste, which will only increase in the upcoming years, a considerable challenge for its waste management system. The environmental and human health risks associated with the unscientific dumping of solar PV waste have been well established in the existing literature, presenting the need to develop an effective strategy to manage this emerging waste stream. This paper presents a review of literature about India's solar PV waste management sector with a view to understanding the ground realities and identifying challenges and barriers that hinder the adoption of a regularised strategy for its management using the DPSIR framework approach. It goes on to propose a regulatory framework aimed at mainstreaming the end-of-life (EOL) management of solar PV waste in India after evaluating strategies that have already been used worldwide. In line with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concept, a multistakeholder, multi-sectoral and systematic approach has been adopted to develop a specific regulatory framework for India. The framework was subjected to a SWOT analysis to evaluate its functionality. The SWOT analysis indicates that one of the critical strengths of the framework is that it is based on a participatory approach to be adopted by all stakeholders for managing this emerging waste stream. [Display omitted] • Solar PV waste at EOL emerging as a prominent waste stream in India. • EOL solar PV waste management can foster Resource Efficiency and Circularity. • Systems approach and multistakeholder required to manage solar PV waste. • Self-standing EPR legislation is appropriate for EOL solar PV waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive canal irrigation network in South Asia has developed over the past 170 years that consists of thousands of kilometers of constructed channels and distributaries. These canals cut across many energy-poor regions along their paths. In India, this canal network provides a unique opportunity for renewable energy generation that is yet to be realized. Existing technologies for energy generation on canals include small hydropower on canal falls and, recently, canal-top solar panels. In addition, opportunities for hydrokinetic generation in irrigation canals have received limited attention. This paper develops a novel canal-network level framework for energy planning that integrates generation with local energy needs in a canal-corridor. This framework for integrated spatial assessment analyzes the supply of renewable energy generation potential and the demand of unmet energy needs in a canal-corridor, using the Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh, India as a case study. We consider the theoretical and technological potential of hydropower and solar power generation and develop three indices to assess the agricultural, domestic, and composite unmet power demand of the canal-corridor. Our results show an overall theoretical potential of 149.1 MW and 13,213 MW for small hydropower and solar power, respectively, which could more than help meet the current 18 hours per day electricity service standard in Uttar Pradesh. The framework uses standardized irrigation and census datasets and therefore is generalizable for canal networks across India and South Asia more broadly. • Irrigation canal energy technologies include small hydro and canal-top solar power. • Novel canal-network level framework for energy planning. • Integration of generation potential with local energy needs in a canal corridor. • Theoretical and technological potential of energy generation on canals. • Three indices for agricultural, domestic, and composite unmet power demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]