Executive Summary

Executive Summary
India has been facing an acute shortage of electricity with over 30% of population devoid of electricity, especially in rural areas. The gap in demand and supply is consistently growing over the years. Gauging the high time and cost required for the rural electrification process, its imperative to search for alternative measures. Solar energy, a renewable source, doesn’t necessarily require transmission lines and transformers throughout the geography. Instead, it can be used separately so as to cater to individual homes.
Solar energy has many direct uses, including passive architectural applications such as lighting and thermal comfort provided by the use of proper building materials and orientation, as well as active water and space heating.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and concentrating solar power (CSP) systems can generate electricity on a small or large scale. In addition, PV cells are used in a variety of cost-effective and “off the grid” applications, including calculators, wrist watches, road and railroad warning signs, flashing school zone lights, telecommunication equipment and emergency lighting on offshore oil rigs.
Solar energy is an inexhaustible renewable resource. The sun constantly produces vast amounts of renewable solar energy that can be collected and converted into heat and electricity.

Present scenario:
Out of the total renewable energy capacity (10,467 MW) in India, Solar energy accounts for a paltry 2 MW. Judging by the untapped potential of solar energy, we can conclude that the measures have been grossly unexplored. It has an estimated potential of 50,000MW by the year 2032 as per Infrastructure Development and Corporation Ltd. To generate power on a large scale (say a power plant)
, solar energy is considered expensive due to the high installation costs involved. It may incur a per unit cost of Rs. 12-15 to the consumer. Thus the restrained government attempt to foray into this venture could be explained.

Technology:
With the passage of time, scientists are developing new technologies to optimize the costs incurred in starting a solar power plant. Apart from it, companies in the west have successfully developed solar techniques to run phantom loads like Air-Conditioner, Refrigerator etc. This will cater well for the future and will invite entrepreneurs in this vast scope of business.

X-Factors:
Solar energy is isolated from the energy crisis to a large extent. It depends upon the sun’s rays which can be granted for next millions of years. Photovoltaic solar equipments primarily comprise silicon substrate, which is abundant in earth’s crust. The most important factor is of environmental friendliness, with solar energy having no significant impact on global warming. The renewability and clean development factor justifies the research and development in this field.