Government of India

Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources 4

Solar Electricity
 Dr Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
‘Energy is an important input for
economic development. Since
exhaustible energy sources in the
country are limited, there is an
urgent need to focus attention on
development of renewable
energy sources and use of energy
efficient technologies. The
exploitation and development of
various forms of energy and
making energy available at
affordable rates is one of our major
thrust areas.’
Smt. Sonia Gandhi
Chairperson, National Advisory Council
‘Today India is one of the few
leading countries in the
development and utilization of
renewable energy. The country is
blessed with various sources of
non-conventional energy and I
hope the efforts of Ministry of
Non-Conventional Energy
Sources will promote viable
technologies that can reach the
benefits of such sources to the
poorest people in the far-flung
regions of the country.’
 Renewable Energy in India

E
nergy is a basic requirement for economic development. Every
sector of Indian economy – agriculture, industry, t r a n s p o r t ,
commercial, and domestic – needs inputs of energy. The
economic development plans implemented since independence have
necessarily required increasing amounts of energy. As a result,
consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the
country.
This growing consumption of energy has also resulted in the country
becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels such as coal and oil
and gas. Rising prices of oil and gas and potential shortages in future
lead to concerns about the security of energy supply needed to sustain
our economic growth. Increased use of fossil fuels also causes
environmental problems both locally and globally.
Against this background, the country urgently needs to develop a
sustainable path of energy development. Promotion of energy
conservation and increased use of renewable energy sources are the
twin planks of a sustainable energy
supply.
Fortunately, India is blessed with
a variety of renewable energy
sources, the main ones being
biomass, biogas, the sun, wind, and
small hydro power. (Large hydro
power is also renewable in nature,
but has been utilized all over the
world for many decades, and is
generally not included in the term
‘new and renewable sources of
energy’.) Municipal and industrial
wastes can also be useful sources of
energy, but are basically different
forms of biomass.
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Advantages of renewable energy are that it is

Š perennial
Š available locally and does not need elaborate arrangements for
transport
Š usually modular in nature, i.e. small-scale units and systems can be
almost as economical as large-scale ones
Š environment-friendly
Š well suited for decentralized applications and use in remote areas.

The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has been

implementing comprehensive programmes for the development and
utilization of various renewable energy sources in the country. As a
result of efforts made during the past quarter century, a number of
technologies and devices have been developed and have become
commercially available. These include biogas plants, improved wood
stoves, solar water heaters, solar cookers, solar lanterns, street lights,
pumps, wind electric generators, water-pumping wind mills, biomass
gasifiers, and small hydro-electric generators. Energy technologies for
the future such as hydrogen, fuel cells, and bio-fuels are being actively
developed.
India is implementing one of the world’s largest programmes in
renewable energy. The country ranks second in the world in biogas
utilization and fifth in wind power and photovoltaic production.
Renewable sources already contribute to about 5% of the total power
generating capacity in the
countr y. The major
renewable energy sources and
devices in use in India are
listed in Table 1 along with
their potential and present
status in terms of the number
of installations or total
capacity.

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Table 1

Renewable energy in India at a glance

Cumulative
Estimated installed capacity /
Source/System potential number*
Wind power 45 000 MW 3595 MW
Biomass power 16 000 MW 302.53 MW
Bagasse cogeneration 3500 MW 447.00 MW
Small hydro (up to 25 MW) 15 000 MW 1705.63 MW
Waste to energy
P Municipal solid waste 1700 MW 17 MW
P Industrial waste 1000 MW 29.50 MW
Family-size biogas plants 12 million 3.71 million
Improved chulhas 120 million 35.20 million
Solar street lighting systems — 54 795
Home lighting systems — 342 607
Solar lanterns — 560 295
Solar photovoltaic power plants — 1566 kWp
Solar water heating systems 140 million m 2
1 million m 2 of
of collector area collector area
Box-type solar cookers — 575 000
Solar photovoltaic pumps — 6818
Wind pumps — 1087
Biomass gasifiers — 66.35 MW
* as on 31 March 2005

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National Electricity Policy 2005

The National Electricity Policy aims at achieving the following
objectives.

1 Access to Electricity – available for all households in the next five

years.
2 Availability of Power – demand to be fully met by 2012. Energy
and peaking shortages to be overcome and spinning reserve to be
available.
3 Supply of reliable and quality power of specified standards in an
efficient manner and at reasonable rates.
4 Per capita availability of electricity to be increased to over 1000
units by 2012.
5 Minimum lifeline consumption of 1 unit/household/day as a merit
good by 2012.
6 Financial turnaround and commercial viability of electricity sector.
7 Protection of consumers’ interests.

The Electricity Act 2003

The Electricity Act contains the following provisions pertaining to non-
conventional energy sources.

Sections 3(1) and 3(2)

Under Sections 3(1) and 3(2), it has been stated that the Central
Government shall, from time to time, prepare and publish the National
Electricity Policy and Tariff Policy, in consultation with the state
governments and authority for development of the power system based
on optimal utilization of resources such as coal, natural gas, nuclear
substances or material, hydro and renewable sources of energy.

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Section 4
Section 4 states that the Central Government shall, after consultation
with the state governments, prepare and notify a national policy,
permitting stand-alone systems (including those based on renewable
sources of energy and other non-conventional sources of energy) for
rural areas.

Section 61
Section 61, 61(h) and 61(i) state that the appropriate commission shall,
subject to the provision of this Act, specify the terms and conditions
for the determination of tariff, and in doing so, shall be guided by the
following, namely, the promotion of cogeneration and generation of
electricity from renewable sources of energy; and the National Electricity
Policy and Tariff Policy.

Section 86(1)
Section 86(1) and 86(1)(e) state that the state commissions shall
discharge the following functions, namely, promote cogeneration and
generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy by providing,
suitable measures for connectivity with the grid and sale of electricity
to any person, and also specify, for purchase of electricity from such
sources, a percentage of the total consumption of electricity in the area
of a distribution license.

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 Solar Electricity

Solar Energy

I ndia lies in the sunny regions of the

world. Most parts of India receive 4–7
kWh (kilowatt-hour) of solar radiation per
square metre per day with 250–300 sunny
days in a year. The highest annual radiation
energy is received in western Rajasthan while
the north-eastern region of the country
receives the lowest annual radiation.
Solar energy, experienced by us as heat and
light, can be used through two routes: the
thermal route uses the heat for water heating,
cooking, drying, water purification, power
generation, and other applications; the
photovoltaic route converts the light in solar
energy into electricity, which can then be used for a number of purposes
such as lighting, pumping, communications, and power supply in
unelectrified areas. Energy from the sun has many features, which make
it an attractive and sustainable option: global distribution, pollution-
free nature, and the virtually inexhaustible supply.

Solar Photovoltaics
Solar photovoltaics (SPV) is the process of converting solar radiation
(sunlight) into electricity using a device called solar cell. A solar cell is
a semi-conducting device made of silicon or other materials, which,
when exposed to sunlight, generates electricity. The magnitude of the
electric current generated depends on the intensity of the solar radiation,
exposed area of the solar cell, the type of material used in fabricating
the solar cell, and ambient temperature. Solar cells are connected in
series and parallel combinations to form modules that provide the
required power.
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SPV Technology
Crystalline solar cells
Most solar cells are made of a single crystal or multi-crystalline silicon
material. Silicon ingots are made by the process of crystal growth, or
by casting in specially designed
furnaces. The ingots are then
sliced into thin wafers. Single
crystal wafers are usually of
125 × 125 mm or larger sizes
with ‘pseudo-square’ shape;
multi-crystalline wafers are
typically square-shaped with a
dimension of 100 × 100 mm
or larger. Using high-
temperature diffusion furnaces, ‘impurities’ like boron or phosphorous
are introduced into the silicon wafers to form a p–n junction. The
silicon wafers are thus converted into solar cells. When exposed to
sunlight, a current is generated in each cell. Contacts are attached to
the top and bottom of each solar cell to enable inter-connections and
drawing of the current.

Thin-film solar cells

Thin-film solar cells are made from amorphous silicon (a-Si), copper
indium selenide/cadmium sulphide (CuInSe 2/CdS) or cadmium
telluride/cadmium sulphide (CdTe/CdS), by using thin-film deposition
techniques. These technologies are at various stages of development
and have not yet reached the maturity of crystalline silicon. Production
of thin-film PV modules is also limited.

PV module
PV modules are usually made from strings of crystalline silicon solar
cells. These cells are made of extremely thin silicon wafers (about 300

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µm) and hence are extremely

fragile. To protect the cells
from damage, a string of cells
is hermetically sealed between
a layer of toughened glass and
layers of ethyl vinyl acetate
(EVA). An insulating tedlar
sheet is placed beneath the
EVA layers to give further
protection to the cell string.
An outer frame is attached to
give strength to the module
and to enable easy mounting on structures. A terminal box is attached
to the back of a module; here, the two ends (positive and negative) of
the solar string are welded or soldered to the terminals. This entire
assembly constitutes a PV module. When the PV module is in use, the
terminals are connected either directly to a load, or to another module
to form an array. Single PV modules of capacities ranging from 10 Wp
to 120 Wp can provide power for different loads. For large power
applications, a PV array consisting of a number of modules connected
in parallel and/or series is used.

Standard Capacity/Ratings and Specifications

The wattage output of a PV module is rated in terms of peak watt (Wp)
units. The peak watt output power from a module is defined as the
maximum power output that the module could deliver under standard
test conditions (STC). The STC conditions used in a laboratory are
Š 1000 watts per square metre solar radiation intensity
Š Air-mass 1.5 reference spectral distribution
Š 25 °C ambient temperature.

SPV modules of various capacities are available, and are being used
for a variety of applications. Theoretically, a PV module of any capacity
(voltage and current) rating can be fabricated. However, the standard

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capacities available in the country

range from 5 Wp to 120 Wp. The
voltage output of a PV module
depends on the number of solar
cells connected in series inside the
module. In India, a crystalline
silicon module generally contains
36 solar cells connected in series.
The module provides a usable direct
current (DC) voltage of about 16.5
V, which is normally used to charge
a 12-V battery.
In an SPV system, the
components other than the PV module are collectively known as
‘balance of system’ (BoS), which includes batteries for storage of
electricity, electronic charge controller, inverter, etc. These batteries
are charged during the daytime using the DC power generated by the
SPV module. The battery/battery bank supplies power to loads during
the night or non-sunny hours. An inverter is required to convert the
DC power from the PV module or battery to AC power for operating
the load. Some loads such as DC pumps do not require an inverter or
even a battery bank.

Standards for SPV

Photovoltaic standards in India have been established by the Bureau of
Indian Standards (BIS). So far, there are eight standards prescribed by
the BIS for SPV. These standards mainly relate to the areas listed below.
Š SPV terminology
Š Measurements of cells and modules
Š Methods of correcting the measurements
Š Qualification test procedure for crystalline silicon modules
Š General description of SPV power generating systems
Š Parameters of stand-alone SPV systems

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Standards are under preparation for BoS components such as

batteries, inverters, and charge controllers. These standards are based
mainly on the corresponding International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) or European standards.

Testing and Cer tification of SPV

The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) has
established facilities for testing of solar cells, PV modules, and systems
at its Solar Energy Centre (SEC) in Gurgaon, Haryana. Apart from
the SEC, some facilities for the testing of PV modules and SPV-based
lighting systems are available at the Electronic Testing and Development
Laboratory (ETDC), Bangalore; the Electronics Regional Testing
Laboratory (ERTL-East), Kolkata; and the Central Power Research
Institute (CPRI), Thiruvananthapuram. While the ETDC has facilities
to test PV modules, the ERTL-East and the CPRI are mainly meant to
test SPV-based lighting systems. The Ministry provides design/
performance guidelines for SPV systems being promoted under its
programmes. The test centres carry out tests on a sample SPV system
and provide a test report on its performance based on the specifications
laid down by the Ministry. India has currently about 14 PV companies
that manufacture PV modules, and over 45 companies that manufacture
SPV systems. Manufacturers have to get their samples tested either by
the SEC or by other test centres mentioned above for supply under the
Ministry’s schemes.

Advantages of SPV Systems

The major advantages of using SPV systems are as follows.
Š Abundant solar radiation is available in most parts of India. Hence,
SPV systems can be used anywhere in the country.
Š SPV systems are modular in nature. Hence, they can be expanded
as desired and used for small and large applications.
Š There are no running costs associated with SPV systems, as solar
radiation is free.

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Š Electricity is generated by solar cells without noise.

Š PV systems have no moving parts. Hence, they suffer no wear
and tear.
Š As most of the components of SPV systems are pre-fabricated, these
systems can be installed quickly. Hence, PV projects have short
gestation periods.
Š SPV modules have long-life, and require no maintenance. Only
BoS components such as batteries and inverters require minor
maintenance.

SPV Lighting Systems

SPV lighting systems are becoming popular
in both the rural and urban areas of the
country. In rural areas, SPV lighting systems
are being used in the form of portable
lanterns, home-lighting systems with one or
more fixed lamps, and street-lighting
systems. Applications in urban areas include
glow-sign display systems on the streets,
traffic signalling, message display systems
based on light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and
systems to illuminate advertisement
hoardings.

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Solar lantern
The solar lantern is a portable lighting system. Being light in weight, it
is easy to carry around and therefore ideal for both indoor and outdoor
usage.
A typical solar lantern consists of a PV module of 8 Wp to 10 Wp
capacity, a sealed maintenance-free battery of 12 V, 7 AH (ampere-
hours) capacity, and a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) of 5 W or
7 W rating. A solar lantern is usually meant to provide light for three
to four hours daily, and designed
to have a three-day ‘autonomy’,
that is, to function in this
manner for three days without
sunlight.

Operation
No installation is required for a
solar lantern. During the day,
the PV module is placed in the
sun and is connected through a
cable to the lantern unit. The
incident solar radiation is converted into electricity, which, in turn,
charges the battery. A green LED light indicates the charging of the
battery. At night, the lantern is simply detached and used wherever
required. The battery provides power to the lamp. The cost of a solar
lantern with the above specifications is in the range of Rs 3000–3300.
Low-cost models with smaller PV modules and battery capacity are
also available.

Solar home system

A solar home system (SHS) provides a comfortable level of illumination
in one or more rooms of a house. There are several SHS models featuring
one, two, or four CFLs. It is also possible to run a small DC fan or a
12-V DC television with the system.

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The SHS consists of a PV module of 18, 37 or 74 Wp capacity; a

sealed, maintenance-free, or flooded lead–acid battery of 12 V and 20,
40 or 75 AH capacity; and CFLs of 9 W or 11 W rating. The system is
designed to provide service for three to four hours daily, with an
autonomy of three days, that is, the system can function for three cloudy
days.

Operation
A PV module is usually mounted on the roof of the house so that it is
exposed to direct solar radiation throughout the day, avoiding any
shadow. The module converts incident radiation into electricity, which,
in turn, charges the battery, which is placed inside the house. The
battery provides power to the CFLs, and to the television and/or fan as
required. A change controller prevents overcharging and deep discharge
of the battery.

Cost
The cost of an SHS depends on the load to be supported, the capacity
of the PV modules used to meet the load requirement, and the capacity
of the battery to meet the required autonomy. The indicative costs of
five different SHS models are listed below.

Model I (one 9 W CFL): Rs 6000

Model II (two 9 W CFLs): Rs 10000
Model III (one 9 W CFL and one fan): Rs 11000
Model IV (two 9 W CFLs and a fan/TV): Rs 18500
Model V (four 9 W CFLs): Rs 17500

The cost of the fan/TV is not included in the above costs. There
could be variations due to local taxes, additional transportation costs,
etc.

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Solar street lighting system

A solar street-lighting system (SLS) is an outdoor lighting unit used to
illuminate a street or an open area usually in villages. A CFL is fixed
inside a luminaire which is mounted on a pole. The PV module is
placed at the top of the pole, and a battery is placed in a box at the
base of the pole. The module is mounted facing south, so that it receives
solar radiation throughout the day, without any shadow falling on it.
A typical street-lighting system consists of a PV module of
74 Wp capacity, a flooded lead–acid battery of 12 V, 75 AH capacity,
and a CFL of 11 W rating. This system is designed to operate from
dusk to dawn (that is, throughout the night). The CFL automatically
lights up when the surroundings become dark and switches off around
sunrise time.
The cost of an SLS is about Rs 19 000. Variations in the cost are possible
on account of local taxes, additional transportation costs, etc.
The Ministry provides financial assistance for the promotion of some
of the above solar lighting systems among eligible categories of users.

Solar-powered traf fic signal systems

Conventional signal systems to control and regulate traffic are based
on incandescent lamps, and are powered by the normal city supply.
Failures in power supply often lead to chaos at traffic junctions. These
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conventional systems can be replaced by solar-powered traffic signalling

systems, which use LEDs and work without interruption during power
failures. Switching to solar-powered systems would help conserve large
amounts of conventional electrical power. Besides consuming much
less power, LED-based lights last much longer than conventional
filament-based lamps. Hence, routine maintenance costs would be
reduced.
The design of these systems depends on the number of lights to be
operated at a junction. A PV array of about 1 kWp capacity would be
required for a four-road junction, along with an appropriately sized
battery bank based on the site conditions. This system does not require
an inverter. In case of need, the system can also work with conventional
grid supply. The system has programmable logic controllers for setting
parameters such as through time, peak time, on/off time, etc. Its features
include ‘auto’, ‘on/off ’, and ‘blink’.
The cost of a solar-powered lighting system depends on its
components, including PV array, battery bank, and electronic
controller. For a four-road junction, the cost would be about
Rs 6.40 lakhs. Such systems are presently being used in Bangalore,
Delhi, and other major cities in the country.

SPV-based information display systems

LED-based information display systems, powered by SPV, are now being
installed at road junctions, on the roofs of prominent buildings, and
other places. These systems vary in size, and display useful information
pertaining to population, road safety, AIDS, ambient conditions, etc.
Such systems are slowly replacing traditional neon tube-based systems;
the latter are not only expensive, but also consume much more energy.
Such SPV-powered display systems can be installed in urban areas and
along highways.
Depending on their levels of power consumption, SPV information
display systems are provided electricity by stand-alone SPV power
plants. For a typical LED information system of size about 1 × 2 m
and consuming about 300 watts of energy, an SPV module of about
2 kWp capacity is required to enable it to operate all through the night.

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The battery bank size would depend on the desired autonomy, and on
the number of hours of operation required.
The cost of such a system depends on the sizes of the SPV array and
battery bank. These, in turn, depend on the power requirement of the
display board. For a 300-watt system requiring 15 hours of operation,
the approximate cost can be about Rs 7 lakhs.

SPV power plants

In an SPV power plant, electricity is centrally generated. This electricity
is either made available to users through a local grid in a ‘stand-alone’
mode, or connected to the conventional power grid in a ‘grid-interactive’
mode. Stand-alone power plants provide grid-quality power locally to
people to meet their requirements for lighting and other needs. Power
plants are preferred over individual SPV systems if a number of users
are in close proximity. The cost of power may be of the order of Rs 15
per kWh for a grid-interactive power plant and higher for stand-alone
power plant.

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Stand-alone SPV power plant

A stand-alone SPV power plant is typically designed for specific
requirements. The capacity of a stand-alone power plant varies from 1
kWp to 25 kWp, and in some cases even higher. These systems are used
where conventional grid supply is not available, or is erratic or irregular.
A stand-alone power plant functions like an uninterrupted power supply
system (UPS) and provides a constant, stable, and reliable supply to
the loads. These power plants can also be used in areas where grid
supply is available; in such places the power plants operate like a hybrid
power plant, working with grid, as well as with SPV. The capacity of
its battery bank depends on
user requirements. The most
common use for such plants
is the electrification of remote
villages. Other uses include
power for hospitals, hotels,
communications equipment,
railway stations, border
outposts, etc.,
Stand-alone SPV power
plants comprise PV array,
battery bank, inverter, and
charge controller. Depending
on the system voltage, SPV
modules are arranged in series and parallel combinations. The standard
combinations are 2, 4, 6, 10, 20 or more modules. The corresponding
system voltages are in the range of 24 to 240 V. The size of the battery
bank is determined by the system voltage and ampere-hour requirements
of the load. The inverter is selected based on the system voltage and
peak-load capacities. Other components such as junction boxes,
distribution boxes, and cables are selected according to the maximum
amount of current to be handled by them.

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The cost of a stand-alone power plant depends on the PV array size,

battery bank capacity, inverter, etc. The approximate cost of a stand-
alone power plant is between Rs 3.00 lakhs and Rs 3.50 lakhs per kW
of PV capacity. Distribution costs (such as in a village) may
be extra.

Solar Generators
A solar generator is a small capacity, stand-alone SPV power system
based on a PV array, connected to a battery bank and an inverter of
appropriate size. This system is designed to supply power to limited
loads (such as lights and fans) for a period of two to three hours daily
in situations such as conventional power failure or load-shedding. The
MNES currently promotes four models of solar generators, with
capacities of 150, 350, 450, and 600 Wp. These solar generators are
mainly meant to replace the conventional small-capacity petrol-based
generators that are used during routine load-shedding periods in urban
areas by shops, clinics, and other small establishments.
The components of a typical solar generator are a small SPV array
connected to a battery bank of appropriate size and an inverter based
on 12, 24, or 48 V. The system is designed to supply power to loads
such as lights, fans, credit-card operating machines, and personal
computers for a period of two to three hours.
The cost of the four solar generator models promoted by the MNES
varies from Rs 35 000 to Rs 145 000.

Building-integrated PV Systems
In a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system, PV panels are
integrated into the roof or façade of a building. BIPV systems are
becoming common in Europe, the USA, and Japan. The SPV panels
generate electricity during the daytime, which is used to meet a part of
the electrical energy needs of the building. BIPV systems have significant
potential in India, where a large number of buildings are constructed
every year for different purposes, and where energy consumption in

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buildings is growing at a rapid rate. Although the initial costs of a

BIPV system are high, long-term savings result from a reduction in
electricity consumption.
India needs more experience in the field of BIPV technology. In
order to encourage this application and to prepare manufacturers and
users, the Ministry supports BIPV projects by meeting 80% of the
cost of PV modules installed in the systems on government and semi-
government buildings.

SPV Pumping System

Water pumping is one of the most important applications of PV in
India. An SPV water pump is a DC or AC, surface-mounted or
submersible or floating pump that runs on power from an SPV array.
The array is mounted on a suitable structure and placed in a shadow-
free open space with its modules facing south and inclined at local
latitude.
A typical SPV water-pumping system consists of an SPV array of
200–3000 Wp capacity, mounted on a tracking/non-tracking type of
structure. The array is connected to a DC or AC pump of matching

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capacity that can be of

surface-mounted,
submersible, or floating
type. Interconnecting
cables and electronics
make up the rest of the
system. SPV water pumps
are used to draw water for
irrigation as well as for
drinking. The normal
pumping heads are in the
range of 10 metres (m) for
irrigation, and 30 m for drinking water. It is possible to use pumps
with even greater head, especially for drinking water supply.
The SPV array converts sunlight into electricity and delivers it to
run the motor and pump up water. The water can be stored in tanks
for use during non-sunny hours, if necessary. For maximum power
output from the SPV array, the structure on which it is mounted should
track the sun. Electronic devices are used to do this in some models,
thereby enabling the systems to operate at maximum power output.
The power from the SPV array is directly delivered to the pump in the
case of DC pumps. In the case of AC pumps, however, an inverter is
used to convert the DC output of the array into AC. No storage batteries
are used in an SPV pump.
An SPV pump based on a one-horsepower motor can irrigate about
1–1.5 hectares of land under a variety of crops except paddy and sugar
cane (assuming a 10-m water table). Using the same pump along with
drip irrigation, it is possible to irrigate up to 6 hectares of land for
certain crops. A two-horsepower SPV pump could irrigate about 2–3
hectares of land under many crops except paddy and sugar cane (again
assuming a 10-m water table).
The cost of an SPV pump depends on the capacity and type of
pump. For example, a DC surface pump with a 900 W array may cost
about Rs 150 000; a similar pump of 1800 W may cost about
Rs 300 000; and an 1800 W AC submersible pump may cost
about Rs 422 000.

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Annual mean daily global

solar radiation in India
(in kWh/m2/day)

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Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas

On 20 August 2004 – the 60th Birth Anniversary of our Late Prime
Minister Mr Rajiv Gandhi – the Ministry organized the Rajiv Gandhi
Akshay Urja Diwas. Initiated by the Hon’ble Minister of State (Non-
Conventional Energy
Sources), Mr V Muttemwar,
the occasion saw the release
of a commemorative stamp
by the Hon’ble Prime
Minister, Dr Manmohan
Singh, at a function attended
by Smt. Sonia Gandhi,
Chairperson, United
Progressive Alliance (UPA),
Members of the Union
Cabinet, Members of
Parliament, Chief Ministers,
Foreign Dignitaries, Administrators, Scientists, and students among
others.
The day was also appropriate to advocate renewable energy, since
Mr Rajiv Gandhi was a keen enthusiast of scientific advances that would
enable India to leap into the 21st century. Thus, a human chain of
nearly 12 000 school children was formed in the National Capital to
promote a renewable future. In the rest of the country too, functions
such as rallies and human chains were organized. In addition,
competitions such as essay writing, painting, quizzes, and debates were
held, all of which covered different aspects of renewable energy – from
biogas to biomass to solar, hydro, and wind power. The essence of
these public activities was to generate mass awareness and disseminate
information about the advances made in renewable energy technologies,
and with the ultimate objective of achieving ‘Akshay urja se desh vikas
– Gaon gaon bijlee, ghar ghar prakash’. The success of the Rajiv Gandhi
Akshay Urja Diwas has encouraged the Ministry to make it an annual
affair, to be celebrated on 20 August every year.

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For more information, please contact

Ministry of Non-Conventional
Energy Sources Tel. +91 11 2436 0707
Block No. 14, CGO Complex +91 11 2436 0404
Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003 Fax +91 11 2436 1298

Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to provide correct information in this booklet. However, the Ministry of
Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy
of the facts and figures mentioned here, nor for any consequences arising out of use of any
information contained in this publication.

24
 Shri Vilas Muttemwar
Minister of State (Independent Charge)
Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Government of India
New Delhi – 110 003

‘The promotion of renewable energy sources in the

country requires widespread publicity and greater
awareness of the potential of these energy sources
and the products available. The Ministry of Non-
Conventional Energy Sources is expanding several
of its programmes so that these sources can
contribute to sustainable development of the nation.
The Ministry will work towards reducing the costs
of renewable energy products and making them
easily available to the people. The motto of the
Ministry is “Akshay urja se desh vikas” and the
ultimate goal is “Gaon gaon bijli, ghar ghar prakash”.’
4 Solar Electricity

Booklets in this Series

1 Biogas

2 Biomass

3 Solar Heat

4 Solar Electricity

5 Energy Recover y from Wastes

6 Wind Energy

7 Small Hydro Power

8 Hydrogen Energy

9 Solar Energy Centre

10 Centre for Wind Energy Technology

11 Indian Renewable Energy Development

Agency Ltd

12 Information and Public Awareness

Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Government of India

Block No. 14, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003
Web site: www.mnes.nic.in