Solar Energy: Clean Fuel of the Future

Introduction
The race toward maintaining atmospheric temperature rise to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels
requires the collaborative contributions of all nations of the world—from the low-income to
high-income economies. To achieve global net-zero goals, developed countries will need to
change the mix of energy sources in their mature industrialized systems to include a significant
portion of low carbon. However, developing countries will aim to attain industrialization with
low-carbon energy sources. Owing to the diversity in objectives for high-income and low-
income nations, there are several calls for a just transition: giving safe allowances to each
category to ease the socio-economic shocks that could arise from the ambitious commitments to
migrate to low-carbon energy sources (Oyewo et al., 2021). Furthermore, the effects of climate
change also require that the new energy systems are not only reliable but also resilient to high-
impact environmental events.

Primary Energy Mix of India

In 2020, India's primary energy consumption dropped by 5.9%, the first cut in consumption this century.
During lockdowns and other coronavirus restrictions, GDP decreased by 7.2%. In terms of energy
demand, oil was the most affected with 9.9%. decrease due to lower road and air traffic. However, coal
consumption declined by 6.0%. India accounted for 17.0% of the worldwide decline in coal consumption.
There was a slight increase in natural gas consumption to 60 bcm (0.3%). Compared to 6.3% in 2019 and
8.2% in 2009, natural gas consumption in India's primary energy mix increased to 6.7% in 2020.

Fig. 2: Primary Energy Mix of India

(Source: https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/businesssites/en/global/corporate/pdfs /energy-
economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2021-indiainsights. pd)
Renewable Energy:
Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally
replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves,
and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy sources are sustainable, some are not. For
example, some biomass sources are considered unsustainable at current rates of exploitation.
Renewable energy often provides energy for electricity generation to a grid, air and water
heating/cooling, and stand-alone power systems. About 20% of humans' global energy
consumption is renewables, including almost 30% of electricity. [6] About 8% of energy
consumption is traditional biomass, but this is declining. Over 4% of energy consumption is heat
energy from modern renewables, such as solar water heating, and over 6% electricity.
India strives to build a low-carbon future with a judicious mix of coal, oil, gas, nuclear, and
renewable energy sources. As per Government targets, Renewable Energy capacity in installed
power capacity in India will reach 450 GW by 2030. Globally, carbon emissions are alarmingly
high, endangering the environment. As India embarks on a drive towards clean energy, it will
focus on sustainable energy - renewable resources, electric vehicles, and gas-based applications
and technologies. Conventional liquid fuels will be used in the transport sector more efficiently
by adding CNG and LNG as transportation fuels in buses, trucks, and long-distance transport
through railways, as well as by expanding electric mobility.
India is the world's 3rd largest consumer of electricity and the world's 3rd largest renewable
energy producer with 38% of energy capacity installed in the year 2020 (136 GW of 373 GW)
coming from renewable sources. Ernst & Young's (EY) 2021 Renewable Energy Country
Attractiveness Index (RECAI) ranked India 3rd behind USA and China. In November 2021,
India had a renewable energy capacity of 150 GW consisting of solar (48.55 GW), wind (40.03
GW), small hydropower (4.83 GW), bio-mass (10.62 GW), large hydro (46.51 GW), and nuclear
(6.78 GW). India has committed to a goal of 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.
In 2016, Paris Agreement's Intended Nationally Determined Contributions targets, India
committed to producing 50% of its total electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. In
2018, India's Central Electricity Authority set a target of producing 50% of the total electricity
from non-fossil fuels sources by 2030. India has also set a target of producing 175 GW by 2022
and 500 GW by 2030 from renewable energy.
Advantages of Renewable Energy:
1. It is safe, abundant, and clean to use when compared to fossil fuels.
Even clean-burning natural gas is at a disadvantage to what renewable energy sources can
provide. Enough sunlight comes down on our planet every day that if we could harvest it
with solar panels and other forms of collection, we could power everything for an entire year.
Because wind is created by the warmth of the sun, it is also virtually limitless. Fossil fuels, in
theory, are finite resources because of how they are created.
2. Multiple forms of renewable energy exist.
Diversification within the renewable energy sector has exploded since the 1970s. From dams
that provide hydropower to solar strips that are strong enough to handle the weight of a
vehicle and can be turned into roads, we have numerous methods of creating power through
 the collection of renewable energy. There is greater diversity in this sector when compared to
fossil fuel resources.
3. It provides the foundation for energy independence.
Many nations rely on fossil fuels for their society to function under the “modern” definition.
These fuels come from a handful of countries that work to control pricing and availability.
By developing renewable energy resources, countries can work toward energy independence
with a diversified portfolio of energy to access. Although these resources take time to
develop, it should be remembered that the current fossil fuel infrastructure has more than a
century of development behind it.
4. Renewable energy is stable.
When renewables are creating energy, the power produced is stable and usable, just like any
other form of “traditional” power. It is a dependable resource when infrastructure is available
to support it. Jobs are created within the sector as well, creating stability within local
economic sectors at the same time. The power created can be distributed through existing
grids, which can limit installation costs for some communities.
5. It is a technology instead of a fuel.
Coal must be mined and refined to make it useful. Natural gas must be released and
transported. Fossil fuel is created from natural resources, whereas renewable energies are
created thanks to the use of technology. For this reason, the pricing of renewable energies
will continue to go down as improvements in technology occur. Fossil fuels can see price
reductions through mining and refining efficiency improvements, but there will always be an
underlying labor cost that will affect pricing and availability.
Disadvantages of Renewable Energy:
1. Not every form of renewable energy is commercially viable.
Many forms of renewable energy must be collected at a specific location, which means
distribution networks must be set up to take advantage of the power that can be generated. These
networks require a massive fossil fuel investment that can take generations to neutralize with the
use of renewable energy. From tidal power to geothermal, the commercial viability of many
renewable energy resources is not available right now.
2. Many forms of renewable energy are location-specific.
Even solar energy has limited potential in some locations. In Seattle, Washington, just 71 days
per year are classified as “sunny,” or having a cloud cover that is less than 30%. Northern cities
may go through prolonged periods without any sunlight during the winter months. Because
renewable energy is often location-specific, it may not be available for every community to use.
3. Many forms of renewable energy require storage capabilities.
With traditional power resources, the home or business is connected to a local distribution grid
so that it can be accessed 24/7. When using a renewable energy resource, backup and storage
resources must be included with the power generation opportunity. Sunlight doesn’t happen at
night. Wind speeds are not always consistent. The storage capabilities that are required can push
the cost of a new renewable energy system beyond what the average person or community can
afford.
4. Pollution is still generated with renewable energy.
Renewable energies are cleaner than most fossil fuels, but “cleaner” and “clean” are very
different terms. A resource like biomass still burns waste products and puts pollution into the
atmosphere. This includes carbon and methane, which are classified as greenhouse gases. The
technologies and facilities that are used to build renewable energy resources require fossil fuels,
as do the transportation and distribution networks. In many instances, renewable energy relies on
fossil fuels, whereas fossil fuels do not rely on renewables.
5. Renewables often require subsidies to make them affordable.
In the United States, an emphasis on biofuels and renewable energies led to the creation of
ethanol as a crude oil replacement. Despite taxpayer-funded subsidies in place for this corn-
based fuel, only 430,000 barrels per day were produced in 2007. That was enough to replace 2%
of the oil that was being consumed while corn prices skyrocketed because of the crops being
funneled into this renewable fuel.
Renewable Energy Industry Scenario in India
Renewable energy sources have a combined installed capacity of 150+ GW in India. As of 31
December 2021, the total installed capacity for renewable energy in India is 151.4 GW. The
following is the breakup of the total installed capacity for renewables, as of 31 December 2021:
 Wind Power: 40.08 GW
 Solar Power: 49.34 GW
 BioPowerer: 10.61 GW
 Small Hydro Power: 4.83 GW
 Large Hydro: 46.51 GW
The government of India has set targets to reduce India’s total projected carbon emission by 1
billion tones’ by 2030, reduce the carbon intensity of the nation’s economy by less than 45% by
the end of the decade, achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and expand India’s renewable
energy installed capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
 45 solar parks with an aggregate capacity of 37 GW have been approved in India.
 Solar Parks in Pavagada (2 GW), Kurnool (1 GW), and Bhadla-II (648 MW) are included
in the top 5 operational solar parks of 7 GW capacity in the country.
 The world’s largest renewable energy park of 30 GW capacity solar-wind hybrid project
is under installation in Gujarat.
 Fig. 1: Aerial view of Pavagada Solar Plant
Source: : https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/businesssites/en/global/corporate/pdfs /energy-
economics/statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2021-indiainsights.pd
Solar Energy
There is so much available energy from the Sun but the world still heavily relies on oil and other
fossil fuels. With great available resources to help us start depending on solar energy, like solar
panels and even roman blinds, we need to rethink our way of living and exchange them for eco-
friendly strategies. It is not just the factor of being eco-friendly that makes solar energy great, it
is also a modern technology that looks cool and adds value to your home or business. Solar
energy has more than enough potential to satisfy global energy demand, and yet the nation still
heavily relies on importing expensive foreign oil so it is natural to ask yourself what is the logic
behind this? Several different factors need to be considered when answering this question.

The first thing we need to know is that the solar energy sector is still relatively young in terms of
development, and therefore still lacks the “proven technology” tag that oil and fossil fuels have.
The young development in energy in most cases means that efficiency is low and costs are high,
and this is exactly the summary of the current story with solar energy technology.

The prices of solar energy technologies are constantly dropping but they haven’t still dropped
enough to be able to compete with the costs of fossil fuels. Even total cost-competitiveness with
fossil fuels wouldn’t be a total guarantee that solar energy would push fossil fuels out of the
energy market because of powerful fossil fuels lobbies that use their influence to control politics
in case of emergency.

High costs, early development phase, and lack of tradition are the main reasons why solar energy
is many light years away from being competitive with fossil fuels. But there are some other
factors that I should mention, most notably the solar energy storage issue. Sun as you know
doesn’t shine at night nor when it is cloudy or rain so what we need is adequate solar energy
storage methods that would do the job of providing us with energy in these situations. Currently,
many ongoing types of research tend to solve the solar energy storage problem though but we are
yet to see a really effective solution to this problem.
Photovoltaics
Photovoltaic cells are “devices that convert sunlight into electricity using the photoelectric
effect”. Photovoltaic cells are also referred to as “solar cells”, and they are not brand new
technology as some people think they are. In fact, first photovoltaic cell was constructed by
Charles Fritts in the 1880s so we are definitely not talking about something that is brand new
technology. The first significant application where solar cells were used was as a back-up power
source to the Vanguard I satellite more than 50 years ago, back in 1958.

Photovoltaic cells are made of semiconducting materials similar to those used in computer chips.
There are many different types of photovoltaic cells, and it is difficult to tell which technology
will prevail at the end, among those that are currently mostly used are thin film, monocrystalline
silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and amorphous cells.

Concentrating photovoltaics also belongs to new methods of electricity generation from the sun.
Photovoltaic cells that are designed to operate with concentrated sunlight are built into
concentrating collectors that use a lens to focus the sunlight onto the cells. This is not the ideal
solution because the lenses must be pointed at the sun so the efficient use of concentrating
collectors is really limited to the sunniest locations. But on the other hand concentrating
photovoltaics have an edge when it comes to costs because they use very little expensive
semiconducting materials.

Solar cells despite obvious technological development in the last few decades still haven’t
reached the levels of high efficiency. An average photovoltaic cell has an efficiency of 15%,
which means that less than one-sixth of the sunlight striking the cell actually generates
electricity. The low efficiency of commercial solar cells is the main reason why solar panels are
still connected with high costs because in order to achieve the desired efficiency you need larger
arrays.

Therefore, if solar energy wants to become competitive with fossil fuels it will have to produce
inexpensive and highly efficient photovoltaic cells. Some of the latest research work was really
positive, and this should give us hope that science is ready to come up with some breakthrough
discovery that would make solar cells cheaper and much more efficient.

Why isn’t world using more solar energy?

Using more solar energy to cut our dependence on fossil fuels, and improve our energy security
and energy independence seems like a very logical solution, especially since the Sun is the most
abundant source of energy on our planet. Solar energy can provide us with over 1000 times more
energy than we currently need but despite this enormous potential, in 2008 solar power
accounted for miserable 0.02% of the world’s total energy supply.

There are several reasons why world isn’t using more solar energy to satisfy its huge energy
demand. When talking about solar power technologies we need to know that these technologies
are still in the very early phase of development, which explains why solar power still fails to
achieve efficiency comparable with fossil fuels. An average solar panel has an efficiency of
around 15 percent, which means that large amount of solar energy gets wasted, and ends up like
a heat instead being turned into some form of useful energy.

Improving efficiency of solar cells won’t mean much unless science also finds the solution on
how to make solar panels cheaper. The only way solar power can really prosper in years to come
is by finding highly efficient solar panels that would also be commercially viable. This is by all
means a difficult task for science, but several latest researches have given us at least some hope
that finding this solution isn’t a mission impossible.

There is also one other issue that solar energy sector will need to resolve, namely the
intermittency issue. Solar energy is an intermittent energy source because Sun doesn’t shine all
the time which means that solar energy is not continually available throughout the whole day. In
order to tackle the intermittency, issue solar energy (again) needs science to find some cheap
solar energy storage solution. Using molten salts as the storage medium has so far proved to be
quite effective, and many energy experts have great expectation of this solar energy storage
method.

Solar power will also need to have strong political support, and big funding to become dominant
energy source in years to come. Powerful fossil fuel lobbies will no doubt use their huge political
influence to slow down the development of solar power technologies as much as possible
because they are well aware that once science presents cheap and efficient solar panels, they will
lose their last big advantage over solar power, the cost-competitiveness.

The future of solar power depends heavily on science but politics cannot be overlooked because
science needs large funds to continue with researches, and these funds cannot be obtained
without the strong political support. Solar power has currently strong public support which
should result in favorable politics toward further development of solar power technologies in
years to come. Doing otherwise would mean fewer votes on elections, and this is something
politicians will try to avoid at almost any cost.

SWOT Analysis of Solar Energy

Strengths: A land of solar power and renewable energy technologies

India’s youth is both educated and in the right position to learn a variety of skills that’ll translate
to the workforce. These skills are necessary since millions of graduates leave their academic life
in search of full-time, long-lasting work. Without the right abilities and experience, they may
struggle to find something.

Luckily, the tech space is bolstering in India, providing more jobs to these graduates.
Additionally, international companies are hiring Indians for tech support, having them clock in
when the company’s local employees are asleep.

The other benefit for Western companies in hiring Indians, besides the low cost of labor, is that
Indians blend well into Western culture in terms of temperament and attitude.

Any full-time work is appreciated in India because most families need to care for the aging
members who can’t work any longer. Although the country has over 1.3 billion people within it,
more than half of the population is aged 35 and below. Only a fraction is considered
“elderly” but must still be taken care of.

India is fully self-sufficient in food production. The country has a strong industrial base and an
abundance of grain and crops. Second to China, India is the largest food producer in the world.
But the productivity in this industry is lacking and requires an upgrade in equipment,
infrastructure, and seed supply.

India uses solar and renewable energy through solar-powered lanterns, water pumps, and
cookers. In 2015, the country was labeled the first in solar electricity production. It sold more
than 1.4 million cookers in that year alone. Because of its location, it’s the perfect location for
new and pre-existing solar technologies.
Weaknesses: A country stricken by poverty

Despite the self-sufficiency in food, and the many graduates each year, the country remains poor.
Until 2018, India was held the world’s largest number of poor people. Now it falls in second
place, next to Nigeria.

Indians who are wealthy (in the top 1%) account for half of the total wealth in the country. This
can seriously damper hope for those stricken by poverty who wish to rise up. Instead of trying to
find ways to get out of poverty, many of the poor resort to stealing to make ends meet or to put
something in their hungry bellies for at least one night.

Because it’s known for its poorness, the country doesn’t shine the brightest to people from other
countries. India has a formidable population which means there are sure to be “bad apples”. And
these apples are often attributed to phone scams and robo-callers. Since these scammers often
have an accent people automatically believe they’re Indian.

Opportunities: Investments needed for 69 Indian cities

Back in 2012, most Indians lived without the essentials. Education, water, healthcare, sanitation,
and nutrition are considered essentials. Before the country realized economic liberalization, it
was common for most of the population to go without basic living necessities. The liberalization,
which happened more than 20 years ago, granted the country the ability to globalize.

To grand even more Indians these basic necessities, the government needs to focus on closing the
gap between the poor and working class. This may include investing in growth, the agricultural
sector, and creating new jobs for the country’s growing population.

By 2025, it’s estimated that India will have more than one million people living in 69 of their
major cities. Some of these cities lack necessities like clean water, air, and utilities people can
rely on. If these cities don’t get these essentials, the growing population will be left in a
vulnerable position. Instead of progressing, the country will likely regress.

Other opportunities include investment in businesses. There’s plenty of room for investment

since the cost of labor is so low. For this reason, international business may look into moving or
starting new developments in India. In doing so, efficiency will likely increase for the country.

Threats: Hypertension affecting 40% of Indian youth

You would think that India having such a vast population of people aged 35 and younger would
be a benefit. And it is — except for those afflicted with hypertension. More than 40% of Indian
youth is fighting hypertension. This condition has increased drastically by 150 percent in less
than a decade. In fact, hypertension is the cause of over 30% of Indian deaths each year.
The steadily growing population is another problem. At the moment, India is expected to beat
China’s population by 2023. Unfortunately, there are too many people in India and not enough
places with basic necessities: the majority of the current population lives in rural areas.

Some people are suggesting for the government to create a two-child policy (similar to China) to
slow down the population growth. Then there’s the extreme poverty. For someone to be excluded
out of poverty, they’d have to make Rs 125 per day (or $1.9 a day). Unfortunately, most do not.

SWOT analysis of India: Conclusion

India boasts an impressive population of youth who are itching to get out and work. Most of the
youth are considered “poor” and live in extreme poverty. In fact, until recently, India hosted the
largest number of poor people in their country. Despite a growing technology sector and
international businesses looking to hire Indians for tech support, too many of the citizens live
without basic necessities, like nutrition, education, and healthcare.

India is a country able to create its own food supply with crops. And yet, much of the agricultural
industry suffers from lack of upgraded tools to foster growth. Much of the country uses solar
powered tools for farming (and everyday life), India isn’t investing in renewable energy. The
growing population demands better living standards but as of yet, little has been down to achieve
this.

INVESTMENTS/ DEVELOPMENTS

According to the data released by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT), FDI inflow in the Indian non-conventional energy sector stood at US$ 11.21 billion
between April 2000-December 2021. More than Rs. 5.2 lakh crore (US$ 70 billion) has been
invested in India’s renewable energy sector since 2014. According to the analytics firm British
Business Energy, India ranked 3rd globally in terms of its renewable energy investments and
plans in 2020.

Some major investments and developments in the Indian renewable energy sector are as follows:

 India ranked third on the EY Renewable Energy Country Attractive Index 2021.
 In February 2022, Credence Technologies-HCPL JV announced winning the bid for
India’s single largest hydro power carbon credits project with Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam,
which will create more than 80 million carbon credits.
 In February 2022, Husk Power Systems, a renewable energy company working towards
rural electrification, secured a US$ 4.2 million loan from the Indian Renewable Energy
Development Agency (IREDA).
 In December 2021, India's largest energy provider, Tata Power, was awarded a contract
by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to set up
a 300 MW wind-solar hybrid power plant.
  In October 2021, Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd. (RNESL) announced two acquisitions
to build more capabilities. Both acquisitions – REC Solar Holdings AS (REC Group), a
Norway-based firm, and Sterling & Wilson Solar, based in India – exceeded US$ 1
billion and are expected to contribute to Reliance’s target of achieving the capacity of
100 GW of solar energy at Jamnagar by 2030.
 In October 2021, Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL) acquired SB Energy India for US$
3.5 billion to strengthen its position in the renewable energy sector in India.
 In August 2021, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) signed an investment
agreement with Amp Energy India Private Limited to facilitate joint equity investments
of US$ 200 million across Indian renewable energy projects.
 In July 2021, National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Ltd. (NTPC
REL), NTPC's fully owned subsidiary, sent out a tender to domestic manufacturers to
build India's first green hydrogen fueling station in Leh, Ladakh.
 In June 2021, Reliance Industries announced to invest Rs. 750,00 crores (US$ 10.07
billion) in the green energy segment.
 In June 2021, Suzlon secured a contract for 252 MW wind power project from CLP
India. The project is expected to be commissioned in 2022.
 In June 2021, Tata Power Solar secured a contract worth Rs. 686 crores (US$ 93.58
million) from the NTPC to build 210 MW projects in Gujarat.
 In May 2021, Virescent Infrastructure, a renewable energy platform, acquired 76% of
India’s solar asset portfolio of Singapore-based Sindicatum Renewable Energy Company
Pte Ltd.
 In April 2021, GE Power India's approved the acquisition of 50% stake in NTPC GE
Power Services Pvt. Ltd. for Rs 7.2 crore (US$ 0.96 million).
 The NTPC is expected to commission India’s largest floating solar power plant in
Ramagundam, Telangana by May-June 2022. The expected total installed capacity is
447MW.
 The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) implemented large-scale central auctions
for solar parks and has awarded contracts for 47 parks with over 25 GW of combined
capacity.

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Some initiatives by Government of India to boost India’s renewable energy sector are as follows:

 In the Union Budget 2022-23, the allocation for the Solar Energy Corporation of India
(SECI), which is currently responsible for the development of the entire renewable
energy sector, stood at Rs. 1,000 crores (US$ 132 million).
 In the Budget, the government allocated Rs. 19,500 crores (US$ 2.57 billion) for a PLI
scheme to boost manufacturing of high-efficiency solar modules.
 In February 2022, Nepal and India agreed to form a Joint Hydro Development Committee
to explore the possibility of viable hydropower projects.
 In November 2021, at the COP-26 Summit in Glasgow, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra
Modi made a promise to increase India’s renewable energy generation capacity to 500
GW, and meet 50% of India’s energy needs through renewable means by the year 2030.
  In October 2021, the Ministry of Power announced a new set of rules aimed at reducing
financial stress for stakeholders and safeguarding timely cost recovery in electricity
generation.
 In August 2021, the Indian government proposed new rules for the purchase and
consumption of green energy. The latest rules are a part of government measures to
encourage large-scale energy consumers, including industries, to leverage renewable
energy sources for regular operations.
 In July 2021, to encourage rooftop solar (RTS) throughout the country, notably in rural
regions, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy plans to undertake Rooftop Solar
Programmed Phase II, which aims to install RTS capacity of 4,000 MW in the residential
sector by 2022 with a provision of subsidy.
 In July 2021, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) gave the go ahead to
NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of NTPC, to build a 4,750 MW
renewable energy park at the Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. This will be India's
largest solar park to be developed by the country's leading power producer.
 In June 2021, India launched the Mission Innovation Clean Tech Exchange, a global
initiative that will create a whole network of incubators across member countries to
accelerate clean energy innovation
 In June 2021, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) invited bids
from solar module manufacturers for setting up solar manufacturing units under the
central government’s Rs. 4,500 crores (US$ 616.76 million) Production Linked Incentive
(PLI) scheme.
 In April 2021, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and CEEW’s Centre for Energy
Finance (CEEW-CEF) jointly launched the India Renewables Dashboard that provides
detailed operational information on renewable energy (RE) projects in India.
 In April 2021, the Ministry of Power (MoP) released the draft National Electricity Policy
(NEP) 2021 and has invited suggestions from all stakeholders such as Central Public
Sector Undertakings, Solar Energy Corporation of India, power transmission companies,
financial institutions like Reserve Bank of India, Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, industrial, solar, and wind associations, and state
governments.
 The Government of India has announced plans to implement a US$ 238 million National
Mission on advanced ultra-supercritical technologies for cleaner coal utilization.
 Indian Railways is taking increased efforts through sustained energy efficient measures
and maximum use of clean fuel to cut down emission level by 33% by 2030.
 The government has spent US$ 4.63 billion on hydroelectric projects to provide
electricity to villages in Jammu and Kashmir from 2018-21.

Road Ahead

 The government is committed to increasing the usage of clean energy sources and is now
working on a number of large-scale sustainable power projects as well as extensively
promoting green energy. Furthermore, renewable energy has the potential to provide a
large number of jobs at all levels, particularly in rural areas. In the next four years, India's
renewable energy sector is predicted to receive $80 billion in investment. By 2023, India
will have around 5,000 compressed biogas plants.
  With an anticipated investment of US$ 15 billion this year, India's renewable energy
sector is expected to expand in 2022, as the government concentrates on electric vehicles,
green hydrogen, and solar equipment production.

 By 2040, it is predicted that renewable energy would generate roughly 49% of total
electricity, thanks to the use of more effective batteries to store electricity, which will
reduce the cost of solar energy by 66 percent compared to today's cost. Renewable energy
will save India Rs 54,000 crore (US$ 8.43 billion) per year if it is used instead of coal.

 According to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), renewable energy generation will
climb from 18 percent to 44 percent by 2029-30, while thermal generation would
decrease from 78 percent to 52 percent.

 The Indian government plans to create a "green city" in each state that is powered by
renewable energy. Solar rooftop systems on all of the city's houses, solar parks on the
outskirts, waste to energy facilities, and electric mobility-enabled public transportation
systems will all be used to mainstream environmentally friendly power in the 'green
metropolis.'

Conclusion

The good news is that solar energy sector is constantly developing and improving, lowering
prices and improving efficiency but the bad news is that this tempo in development, despite
being overall positive, won’t be enough to significantly reduce the global strength of fossil fuels
in the next couple of decades.

Slowly but surely looks to be the current motto of global solar energy sector, and with the vast
abundance of solar energy I really do not see any reason that would prevent solar energy from
becoming dominant energy source in years to come. Solar energy may be struggling now but is
likely to dominate in future unlike oil that is dominating now but will run out in future.

The correlation of science, adequate funding and strong political support should in years to come
turn solar energy into one of the world’s most widely used energy sources.