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Access to inexpensive, safe, consistent, and clean energy is a critical necessity for all to achieve the SDGs. India's renewable energy (RE) currently accounts for more than a third of the 482 GW of installed capacity and more than 40 percent of power production (including large-scale hydropower). Reforms such as the establishment of a single national power grid have improved access to electricity for people, and the ambitious development of renewable energy, which is the world's third-largest energy generator and third-largest electricity user, has helped in achieving these aims. As a result, the expansion of national targets signifies and reflects the country's optimism and goal for the forthcoming generation. Standardization of the guidelines and development of the stable grid and transmission networks will only enable the country to achieve the ambitious target of 500 GW of green and clean energy by 2030. This paper highlights the important development in the power sector regarding the energy security of India. As well as specifically examining the initiative of NSMs for achieving the 2030 targets, the key challenges, and the way forward to increase the cumulative installed capacity, comprehensive studies of various policies and government initiatives are also discussed. Furthermore, the key challenges usually faced by the developers in the industry, along with the steep decline and rise in the tariffs of solar projects and the previous trends in capacity installation, are also pointed out. This research work also highlights the potential key challenges to achieving the targets, and will thus provide a focus for power developers, policy makers, researchers, and industry practitioners and help with their planning. In the current scenario, the supply of food and the clean energy nexus are required to meet the demands of people's livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tapping the full potential of clean, renewable energy resources to effectively meet the steadily increasing energy demand is the critical need of the hour and an important proactive step towards achieving sustainability. India's solar energy consumption has witnessed a nearly twofold increase from 6.76 GW in 2015–16 to 12.28 in 2016–17. Since India enjoys the advantage of high solar insolation, increasing the efficiency of solar power systems can tremendously boost clean energy generation. The escalating energy crisis currently faced by India has compelled scientists and researchers to focus on identifying novel economical and efficient technologies for large-scale energy production. Direct utilization of solar energy for fuel conversion has attained greater importance. In this context, generation of hydrogen from industrial wastewater by using solar energy offers significant economic as well as environmental benefits. This investigative review paper focuses on the importance of the solar photocatalytic process to recover the clean energy H2 from sulphide containing industrial wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is gaining traction as a result of decreasing fossil fuel supplies combined with a climate problem, and electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as the new face of this industry. However, electric cars will only be practicable if they are powered by sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind. This review paper discusses a solar powered charging station for electric vehicles, which offers a fuel-saving and pollution-reducing alternative. Using electric vehicles (EVs) for transportation is an environmentally friendly and sensible alternative for developing countries such as India to save their stored energy. As a tropical nation, India is well-known for its plentiful sun radiation. By utilising this vast amount of renewable energy, we can solve the current power crisis. In India, electric vehicles (EVs) are now limited to bikes, scooters, and cars. Although these vehicles appear to be environmentally beneficial, they contribute to pollution because they require grid power. The best solution in this situation will be to set up a solar charge station for electric automobiles. It reduces environmental pollution since charging EVs immediately relieves additional demand on the grid [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power system operation has become more complex with larger use of renewable energy sources, strict requirements of environmental controls, and need to maintain adequate security and stability norms. To meet the environmental norms now, Flue-Gas Desulphurization (FGD) plants have to be installed in old thermal power plants. With larger share of wind and solar energy resources, flexible operation of conventional thermal and hydro power plants is needed. The paper reviews various recent issues pertaining to power system operation in India and the challenges posed to ensure efficient grid operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at the application of Life-Cycle-Costing (LCC) analysis of sustainable renewable energy like solar photo voltaic generation system in India to find out its viability and techno-economic feasibility. Life-Cycle-Costinganalysis is employed to evaluate the long term benefit of the huge investments in India's ambitious plan of setting up nearly 100 GW installed solar power capacity by December 2022. For renewable energy systems, this methodology shows the cost-effectiveness of being used as an alternative source compared to conventional power generations. Case studies of six solar power plants in India in the state of Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, New Delhi and Rajasthan were considered to find out the economic viability of the feasibility of the solar power plants in India. It has been observed that in an emerging economy like India, the feasibility and economic viability of solar power plants are quite high. The cash flow analysis for all six cases confirms that project payback depends on initial investment and rate of Power–Purchase-Agreement (PPA). It has been observed that the payback period is generally less than eight years. Thereby the techno-economic feasibility of the solar power plant projects in India is quite high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rising concern towards climate change, developing countries are moving towards Renewable Energy sources. By promoting the use of renewable energy, we can enhance the sustainable environment for livelihood and assist in economic growth. This paper focuses on the role of renewable energy in the economic growth of India. It focuses on the government policy framework for renewable energy development and its reflections on the increase in the economic growth of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic assets play a key role in the growth of renewable power projects and depend on financial scenarios and policy structures offered by government policies. The focus of the study is to assess the impact of the existing economic scenarios and related government policies on wind and solar power deployment in India. The financial analysis of wind and solar power projects, along with parametric and sensitivity analysis, were performed based on the techno-economic parameters of recent wind and solar energy projects. Factors incorporated into the study are capital cost, annual cash flow, project terminal cost, discount rate, cost of capital, tax rate, capacity factor and technological degradation factor. The results show that the values of levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) calculated for recent wind and solar projects are ₹4.89/kWh ($0.0698/kWh) and ₹4.05/kWh ($0.0578/kWh), respectively, which can be reduced to ₹2.36/kWh ($0.0337/kWh) and ₹2.12/kWh ($0.0303/kWh) through proper amendments to the existing policy, an improved financial framework and technological enhancements. The study will be beneficial to policymakers and project developers, helping to boost the future deployment of wind and solar power projects. (Note: USD ($) was converted to Indian rupee (₹) at an exchange rate of 1$ = 70₹ throughout the paper.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several developing countries have become world leaders in the field of renewable energy, of which China, but also Brazil and India stand out. This research paper focuses on the positions they occupy in the world rankings of hydro, wind, solar and bio energy capacities, as compared to the developed countries. At the same time, the investigation points to specific catalysts or, on the contrary, deterrents of the "green revolution" in the developing world. Hydropower is the most important form of renewable energy in all the three countries included in this evaluation. It is underscored that China is the first one in each of the four world rankings, taking into account the total installed capacity of renewable energy: hydro, wind, solar and bio. It is also the largest investor in renewable energy capacity worldwide. Brazil ranks second as regards hydropower and bioenergy capacities, while India ranks fourth in wind and bioenergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Problems of Sustainable Development / Problemy Ekorozwoju is the property of Faculty of Environmental Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Access to affordable and reliable energy sources can substantially enhance the lives of marginalized communities in rural areas. Unfortunately, numerous households in these communities rely upon unclean sources of energy such as kerosene to light the house even during daylight. To address this issue, solar off-grid technology - Micro Solar Dome (MSD) was implemented in various states across India, specifically benefiting the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities. The study, across the eight selected states, highlights the advantages of adopting off-grid technologies and their roles in promoting awareness of renewable energy solutions. The survey used purposive sampling to collect community members' perceptions of the product's benefits and their awareness of renewable technologies. The results indicated that the utilization of the product not only enhanced illumination levels within households but also contributed to improved safety, increased study hours for children, and facilitated economic activities during the evening hours. Furthermore, the study revealed that education plays a crucial role in adopting solar energy. However, interventions such as awareness programs and hands-on experiences with the products can also greatly enhance awareness and promote adoption in rural areas. Overall, the study provided compelling evidence of the significant and positive impact that small-scale initiatives like the MSD can have on the lives of marginalized communities. It also emphasized the potential of such solutions to empower these communities and improve their overall wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, uniform price was assigned to renewable energy certificate (REC) irrespective of renewable energy (RE) type, technology, and location. Moreover REC price bands are higher than existing preferential tariff. There are distinct renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) specified for various RE types, whereas there is lack of efficient tools to check RPO compliance. Because of these reasons, REC market stabilisation is getting delayed. This paper proposes a method using plant performance multiplier to convert non-solar and solar REC to single equivalent REC with competitive REC pricing, which can be traded on unified REC market. The method combines solar and non-solar RPOs into a single composite RPO, to make RPO compliance and its checking simple and efficient. A sample illustration of the proposed method is given. The benefits offered by the proposed method in REC pricing, REC trading and RPO compliance are discussed. A comparative economic analysis of present and proposed method is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

India is blessed with rich solar energy and if exploited efficiently, the country has the potential of producing trillionkilowatts of electricity. Sunlight is converted to electricity directly when made to fall on solar photovoltaic (SPV) modules. Systems/devices are made for various applications based on SPV modules connected with suitably designed power conditioning units for meeting electricity requirements. These systems/devices are designed to work in off-grid mode (usually supported with batteries to allow use when sunlight is low or during night). In recent years solar PV systems became viable and attractive. Utility scale plants are being set up worldwide with promotional mechanisms which are set up on ground surface. Available roof-top area on the buildings can also be used for setting up solar PV power plants, and thus dispensing with the requirement of free land area. The electricity generated from SPV systems can also be fed to the distribution or transmission grid after conditioning to suit grid Integration. Currently, whole world is in the midst of an energy revolution that is fundamentally changing the future of rural electrification. So we present a review in this paper on today's policy and status of grid connected roof top PV system in Punjab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sagar Island which is located in the world's largest delta, the Sunderban, in the eastern coast of India faces severe power crunch. Due to its isolated location, the power infrastructure is underdeveloped. This has led to very unreliable power supply and frequent power cuts. The island being economically weak, power is inaccessible to most of its residents. Thus, the per unit energy consumption of the area is low and it has led to the lowering of the human development index of the area. However, Sagar Island, owing to its location, has huge solar and wind power potential. This paper discusses the prospect of developing a solar-wind hybrid power plant to supply power to the area. The developed hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) power plant will provide uninterrupted power to the island. Results show that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) from the proposed power plant is 0.03707 $/kWh, which is lower than the LCOE from the available grid. Lowering the cost of electricity will make electricity accessible to most of the inhabitants of the island. This will, in turn, increase the per unit energy consumption and hence the human development index. The proposed power plant will also help the environment by reducing CO2 emissions by 1894.08 tonnes annually. It will also save 587.39 tonnes of coal in its lifetime. Hence, the HRES power plant will make power accessible and also help Sagar Island to become a renewable fed "Green Island.". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant natural energy sources for reducing the global usage of fossil fuels are renewable energy (RE) sources. Solar energy is a crucial and reliable RE source. Site selection for solar photovoltaic (PV) farms is a crucial issue in terms of spatial planning and RE policies. This study adopts a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Multi-Influencing Factor (MIF) technique to enhance the precision of identifying and delineating optimal locations for solar PV farms. The choice of GIS and MIF is motivated by their ability to integrate diverse influencing factors, facilitating a holistic analysis of spatial data. The selected influencing factors include solar radiation, wind speed, Land Surface Temperature (LST), relative humidity, vegetation, elevation, land use, Euclidean distance from roads, and aspect. The optimal sites of solar PV power plant delineated revealed that 'very low' suitability of site covering 4.866% of the study area, 'low' suitability of site 13.190%, 'moderate' suitability of site 31.640%, 'good' suitability of site 32.347%, and 'very good' suitability of site for solar PV power plant encompassing 17.957% of the study area. The sensitivity analysis results show that the solar radiation, relative humidity, and elevation are the most effective on the accuracy of the prediction. The validation of the results shows the accuracy of solar PV power plant prediction using MIF technique in the study area was 81.80%. The integration of GIS and MIF not only enhances the accuracy of site suitability assessment but also provides a practical implementation strategy. This research offers valuable insights for renewable energy policymakers, urban planners, and other stakeholders seeking to identify and develop optimal locations for solar energy power farms in their respective regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation: Tea, derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, holds the position of being the most widely consumed manufactured beverage globally. Its cultivation necessitates specific agro-climatic conditions, leading to its production being confined to select regions, notably including India. India contributes about 20.81% to the world's tea output. The production and processing of tea leaves to final product consume energy in terms of machinery, fertilizer, irrigation etc. The energy consumption involved in tea production is a pressing concern, given the associated high costs and CO2 emissions resulting from fossil fuel usage. To achieve a net-zero carbon balance, there is need to pay attention towards promoting renewable energy technologies as a means to mitigate the CO2 emissions stemming from fossil fuels in India's tea sector. Objectives: Aligned with the objective of sustainability through the integration of renewable energy sources, a pilot study was conducted in the primary teagrowing regions of northeastern India during 2021-22. The primary aims of this study were twofold: to gauge the quantity of CO2 emissions originating from conventional energy sources and to explore the feasibility of incorporating renewable energy sources as viable substitutes. Data and methods: Data on various inputs used in tea production were collected from Assam and West Bengal states of India by using a stratified random sampling method with equal probability and without replacement. Results: The findings of this investigation underscore a noteworthy potential for the adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar energy, within the tea estates situated in the north eastern region of India. Such a transition would yield benefits for both the tea estates themselves and the overall environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify the various influencing factors that affect Individual householders' (IHHs) decision to adopt Home-based charging (HBC) facility supported by the solar rooftop (SRT) system for EV charging. Also, this study aims to prioritize the most suitable policy options to encourage IHHs to adopt HBC and SRT facilities. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was conducted with IHHs in Ahmedabad city, India, and used 854 data for the analysis. This study finds that the socio-demographic characteristics of IHHs like gender, age, educational qualification, occupation, and vehicle ownership significantly influence EV, HBC, and SRT facilities' adoption decisions. Adoption of an HBC facility improves IHHs' confidence for regular EV usage and offers flexibility to charge EV. Further, the most preferred policy is the combined incentives for EV, HBC, and SRT. This study suggests the Policy bundling method to improve EV adoption in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roadmaps for India's energy future foresee that coal power will continue to play a considerable role until the middle of the 21st century. Among other options, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is being considered as a potential technology for decarbonising the power sector. Consequently, it is important to quantify the relative benefits and trade-offs of coal-CCS in comparison to its competing renewable power sources from multiple sustainability perspectives. In this paper, we assess coal-CCS pathways in India up to 2050 and compare coal-CCS with conventional coal, solar PV and wind power sources through an integrated assessment approach coupled with a nexus perspective (energy-cost-climate-water nexus). Our levelized costs assessment reveals that coal-CCS is expensive and significant cost reductions would be needed for CCS to compete in the Indian power market. In addition, although carbon pricing could make coal-CCS competitive in relation to conventional coal power plants, it cannot influence the lack of competitiveness of coal-CCS with respect to renewables. From a climate perspective, CCS can significantly reduce the life cycle GHG emissions of conventional coal power plants, but renewables are better positioned than coal-CCS if the goal is ambitious climate change mitigation. Our water footprint assessment reveals that coal-CCS consumes an enormous volume of water resources in comparison to conventional coal and, in particular, to renewables. To conclude, our findings highlight that coal-CCS not only suffers from typical new technology development related challenges—such as a lack of technical potential assessments and necessary support infrastructure, and high costs—but also from severe resource constraints (especially water) in an era of global warming and the competition from outperforming renewable power sources. Our study, therefore, adds a considerable level of techno-economic and environmental nexus specificity to the current debate about coal-based large-scale CCS and the low carbon energy transition in emerging and developing economies in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equality between economic progress and environmental sustainability is essential for a developing country like India. In the present time, the economy of India is growing rapidly in a vibrant mode and an efficient way, which in turn demands huge uninterrupted energy supplies. The country's energy needs are met mostly by the usage of fossil fuels and nearly 70% of electricity is generated from coal based power plants. In India, nearly 840 million people depend on traditional biomass to satisfy their energy necessities. Approximately 74 million rural people do not have access to modern lighting systems and around 81 million households do not have access to electricity, which is a major challenge to India's energy security. In order to achieve stable sustainable energy in the long-run, significant progress in renewable energy sectors is needed. Favorably, due to India's geographic location, the country is blessed with abundant renewable energy resources, which has not yet been exploited completely. So the central and state governments of the country have framed various policies and are providing subsidies to encourage the utilization of solar photovoltaic systems. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the potential, current developmental status and prospects of solar energy of India is briefed. The various applications of solar energy such as water heaters, desalination units, pasteurizers, food drying units, water purifier, space heating systems, air-conditioning units, cookers, water pumps, aerators, solar-wind hybrid systems and grid connected photovoltaic systems are explained. The study also mentions the current renewable energy policies, the barriers blocking the progress of the solar manufacturing units and some possible future recommendations that might speed up renewable energy developments in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focused on the prediction of generation of renewable energy (solar and wind) using the machine learning ML algorithms. Prediction of generation are very important to design the better microgrids storage. The various ML algorithms are as logistic regression LR and random forest RA and the ARIMA, time series algorithms. The performance of each algorithm is evaluated using the mean absolute error, mean squared error, root mean squared error, and mean absolute percentage error. The MAE value for the ARIMA (0.06 and 0.20) model for solar and wind energy is very less as compared to RF (15.65 and 61.73) and LR (15.78 and 54.65) of solar and wind energy. Same with MSE and RMSE, the MSE and RMSE value for the ARIMA of solar energy model obtained is 0.01 and 0.08 and wind energy is 0.07 and 0.27 respectively. Comparative analysis of all of these matrices of each algorithm for both the dataset, we concluded that the ARIMA model is best fit for the forecasting of solar energy and wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to renewable energy sources has been identified as crucial to combating climate change on a global scale. India's future energy vision is becoming increasingly focused on renewable markets, particularly solar and wind power, which would improve energy efficiency and allow the country to shift from a coal-based economy to a renewable-based economy by 2030. In this context, the present study intends to investigate the impact of India's considerable investments in solar and wind power plants on mitigating environmental degradation by reducing reliance on coal-fired power. To this end, this study adopts the Fourier Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ADL) cointegration test and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) to assess the relationship between coal consumption, solar power, wind power, and ecological footprint in India using data from 1995 to 2018. The empirical results show that solar and wind power are significant and negatively related to ecological footprint, indicating that they lessen the environmental degradation. However, coal consumption is significant and positively related to ecological footprint. The study findings confirm the constructive role of solar and wind power in mitigating environmental degradation that is caused by the domination of coal-fired power generation in India, and solar and wind power are cleaner alternatives to replace coal-fired power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Geographical distribution of solar energy capacity in India. • The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is the initiative by the government of India for installing 100 GW of solar energy by 2022. • Solar Electricity for Industrial Applications in India. • Future Plan of solar power projects in India for Next Decade. Energy has a viable role-play in the socio-economicequilibrium of a country and improving overall quality of existence. Diminishing fossil fuel resources and high risks of environmental contamination associated with them has made it necessary to look for alternative and renewable resources. Due to development and necessity of new alternative renewable energy sources, bio-fuels, solar or wind energy, etc., are gaining constant popularity. Both the state and central government of India and have supported research over solar photovoltaic power during last decade. The present study discuss renewable energy and to be specific solar photovoltaic energy inclination in India along with the comparative studies of current and future developments. This paper also reviews policies and promotional steps taken by the Indian government. Finally, this review paper will assist to realize the present status, challenges and barrier for better planning and administration in setting up and utilizing alternative energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various statistics indicate that many of the parts of India, especially rural and island areas have either partial or no access to electricity. The main reason for this scenario is the immense expanse of which the power producing stations and the distribution hubs are located from these rural and distant areas. This emphasizes the significance of subsidiarity of power generation by means of renewable energy resources. Although in current energy production scenario electricity supply is principally by AC current, a large variety of the everyday utility devices like cell phone chargers, computers, laptop chargers etc. all work internally with DC power. The count of intermediate energy transfer steps are significantly abridged by providing DC power to mentioned devices. The paper also states other works that prove the increase in overall system efficiency and thereby cost reduction. With an abundance of solar power at disposal and major modification in the area of power electronic conversion devices, this article suggests a DC grid that can be used for a household in a distant or rural area to power the aforementioned, utilizing Solar PV. A system was designed for a household which is not connected to the main grid and was successfully simulated for several loads totaling to 250 W with the help of an isolated flyback converter at the front end and suitable power electronic conversion devices at each load points. Maximum abstraction of operational energy from renewable sources at a residential and commercial level is intended with the suggested direct current systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating photovoltaic system for reservoirs is a recent innovative technology that is highly advantageous in reducing evaporation while generating solar power. In addition, the integration of floating photovoltaic systems with the existing hydroelectric power plants will increase renewable power production. The present study aims to assess the electrical performance of floating photovoltaic systems in major reservoirs with existing hydroelectric power plants in India. The reservoirs with large water surface area were selected for the study, and a model floating photovoltaic system with a 5-MW capacity was designed for the selected reservoirs. The numerical analysis showed that installing floating photovoltaic systems will result in an annual energy yield of 160 GWh. Further, the systems also save 1.40 million cubic meters of water per day and also help in generating additional energy of 514.80 MWh/day from the saved water through its integration with hydroelectric power plants. A single-axis tracking mechanism to the floating photovoltaic systems will increase the annual energy generation by 11%. The detailed cost analysis and carbon emission analysis were also carried out. The results indicate that the tracking mechanisms increase the total installation cost of the systems. The annual carbon emission reduction from the floating photovoltaic systems accounts for about 3.30 million tons of CO2. The obtained results highlight the suitability of this innovative technology for installation in Indian reservoirs and its effectiveness in reducing evaporation and carbon emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The primary objective for promoting clean energy in India is sustainable development, improving energy poverty, energy security, access to energy, and mitigate climate change. Solar‐based renewable energy systems are considering as clean energy because of it does not emit any greenhouse gases when producing electricity. The solar tree is a very good example of the integration of various technologies. The study presents the design, development, and validation of a solar tree in the Himalayan region. The solar tree is emerged out as one of the most creative and environmentally friendly solutions in the mountainous region as it overcomes the problem of the scarcity of land. A modular design approach for the solar tree is adopted. The tree design is a nontracking solar tree, equipped with LED lights, multiple USB ports, electrical sockets for charging laptops, mobile phones, electric bicycles, and electric vehicles. It generates 28% more power in comparison to the land‐based system. Its annual electricity generation is 2160 to 2520 units at the rate of 6 to 7 units per day. The factor of safety at a wind speed of 100 km/h and 200 km/h are 6 and 1.52. The photovoltaic energy density improvement and solar energy footprint improvement with the land‐based system during sunny and bright environmental conditions are 42.37% and 39.47%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy security depends upon the supply and demand of electricity. Power supply volatility is a challenge in India power sector. India is mainly dependent on coal, which is not a viable long-term option. Hence, the future of energy supply in India is renewable energy, and solar energy is the most prominent and reliable source of renewable energy. The solar power plant is classified as a low-, medium- and high-temperature–based solar power plant. The low-temperature solar power plants, the collectors, are unglazed plates. In contract, medium-temperature collectors are flat plates, and high-temperature collectors concentrate sunlight using mirrors and lenses, achieving temperature and pressure up to 3000°C and 20 bar. This article discusses the existing total energy scenario, current solar energy developments, supportive solar energy policies and solar energy prospects. The tactics, availability, perspectives, potential and successes of solar energy in India are discussed in this study. The authors compared the barriers to solar energy acceptance and examined the topic of social dissimilarity from a broad theoretical perspective. The study offers policymakers at the federal and state levels, as well as investors, a perspective on issues that may lead to investments in this area. The study states that solar energy could meet higher than 50% of electricity sector demand in India in 2040. This study determined that solar energy incidence in India is around 5000 trillion KWh (kilowatt-hours) each year. The solar energy accessible in a single year surpasses the energy output from the petroleum derivative. The average energy from the solar power plant is 0.30 kWh per m2 equal to the 1400–1800 peak rated capacity. India has many solar power facilities, making it one of the top producers of renewable energy power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Politics & Policy is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The present work seeks to assess the sustainability of different solar photovoltaic (SPV) electricity-generating systems based upon energy, environment and economics. The sustainability indicators evaluated for energy, environment and economics are electrical output, life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and life-cycle cost of electricity generated per kilowatt hour. The selected SPV-based electricity generation technologies for sustainability evaluation are amorphous, monocrystalline and polycrystalline at different locations and tilt angles across India. For SPV systems, most of the emissions are the result of electricity use during manufacturing. In these cases, an average grid mix for the region of manufacture is typically used to calculate energy use and emissions. Based upon these three indicators, a figure of merit (FM) has been proposed. The results proposed that polycrystalline gives the maximum electrical output, minimum GHG emission, minimum cost and maximum FM at a radiation level of 6 kWh/m2/day with latitude and tilt angle of 34° and 35°, respectively. This work will be helpful to users of solar energy, academicians, researchers and other concerned persons, in understanding the importance, severity and benefits obtained by the application and implementation of the SPV electricity-generating systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new optimal power flow model for wind, solar, and solar-thermal bundled power scheduling and dispatch is proposed, incorporating the deviation incentive/penalty charges for renewable energy introduced in India. The multiobjective function is solved using the flower pollination algorithm; the scheme is successfully tested on the IEEE 30-bus and Indian utility 30-bus systems. The forecasting error constraints introduced in renewable energy scheduling and dispatch are demonstrated to be beneficial in several aspects. Solar-thermal bundling is shown to create win-win situations for thermal and solar generators. The effectiveness of the flower pollination algorithm in solving optimal power flow models is proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Where electricity access is limited, solar lanterns are a viable and relatively inexpensive source of basic lighting for households. However, the creation of commercially viable business models for solar lanterns is difficult because the customers are poor and make decisions under tight liquidity constraints. To understand the economics of technology adoption in the case of solar lanterns, we conduct a field experiment on willingness to pay (WTP) for solar lanterns in rural Uttar Pradesh. Applying the Becker-DeGroot-Marschak method of eliciting WTP, we evaluate the ability of a trial period and postponed payment to increase sales. We find no evidence for the effectiveness of the trial period and only weak evidence for the positive effect of postponed payment. Overall, WTP for the product among the customers is low. There is no clear evidence for concerns about the uncertain quality of the product, liquidity constraints, or present-bias. In this context, policies to subsidize very small solar lanterns would not correct a market failure, as people appear to have only a limited interest in the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of solar energy in water heating applications, such as in solar-assisted heat pump systems, has great benefits, such as reductions in heat transfer losses, control over incident solar heat, and generation of environmentally benign water heat. In the present study, we performed parametric optimization based on an experimental model of a solar-assisted heat pump system for water heating (SAHPSWH) in the context of colder climatic regions receiving minimal solar radiation. Various parameters were investigated, such as the different glazing arrangements, the distances between fluid-circulating tubes, and the absorber sheet arrangement. The results showed that double glazing was more efficient than single glazing, with average COP values of 3.37 and 2.69, respectively, and with similar heat gain rates. When the evaporator tube was soldered below the absorber plate, the COP was 1.19 times greater than when the tube was soldered above the absorber plate. We also analyzed whether the collector efficiency factor F′ has an inverse relationship with the tube distance and a direct relationship with the absorber plate thickness. Through this experimental study, we verified that the SAHPSWH is reliable if designed judiciously. This promising energy-saving system is particularly suitable for areas abundant in solar radiation, such as in India, where the needs for space conditioning and water heating are constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]