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India's power sector is transforming rapidly, marked by rising demand and a growing share of renewables. The short-term power market provides option for power distribution utilities to meet demand exigency. The paper presents trends and perspectives of short-term electricity trading of select states of India. Market transactions reflect seasonal demand variations, higher during summer-monsoon months, dipping in winters. Analysis of data highlights substantial share of short-term power in the total procurement. Quantum of power traded correlates inversely with operational performance of thermal plants as well as grid share of renewable energy. Suggested policy measures include honing of demand forecasting skills using advanced metering infrastructure, deploying energy storage technologies, including decentralized solar, ensuring sustained supply of coal and preventive maintenance of thermal power plants, initiating seasonal procurement contracts with merchant power plants, encouraging power banking arrangements and including storage component in solar and wind tenders. Power markets, if employed appropriately, can help minimize the demand-supply gap, facilitate energy access, and accommodate higher quantum of green power, thus fulfilling SDG-7 targets. • Strong role of climate in influencing power demand. • Distinct patterns of short-term power trading across Indian states. • Market inversely correlates with thermal PLF and RE penetration. • Need to enhanced forecasting skills. • Tenders clauses can include seasonal procurement and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of recent advancements in the design and performance of flat plate solar collectors (FPSCs) for solar thermal power plants. The article highlights various strategies that have been explored to improve the efficiency of FPSCs, including the use of Micro Heat pipe Arrays, nano-materials, phase change materials, and novel tube geometries. The study emphasizes the importance of keeping costs low while improving overall collector efficiency and highlights the research gap in distinct aspects of FPSCs for heat enhancement. The article concludes that these advancements have the potential to significantly increase the use of solar thermal power, which could play a critical role in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change. This study examines the power potential and carbon emission reduction capabilities of solar collectors in India, taking into account the local climatic conditions and geographical location. The study also identifies major challenges and opportunities in the current research domain. Based on the analysis, the study highlights the opportunities for commercializing low cost solar plants in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]