national solar mission

National Solar Mission

“Our vision is to make India’s economic development energy-efficient. Over a period of time, we must pioneer a graduated shift from economic activity based on fossil fuels to one based on non-fossil fuels and from reliance on non-renewable and depleting sources of energy to renewable sources of energy. In this strategy, the sun occupies center stage, as it should, being literally the original source of all energy”

– Indian Prime Minister on the release of the National Action Plan

Great importance has been given to the National Solar Mission in the NAPCC. This is justified by the fact that India is ideally situated in the equatorial Sun Belt receiving abundant solar radiation the year around. The average solar insolation incident over India is about 5.5 kWh/m2 per day, which means that just 1% of India’s land can meet the country’s entire electricity requirement till 2030.[1] The stated objective of the mission is to increase the share of solar energy and other renewable and non-fossil based energy sources in the total energy mix of the country. This includes nuclear energy as a non-fossil option.

The mission also calls for the launch of a research and development (R&D) programme that, with the help of international cooperation, would look into creating more cost-effective, sustainable and convenient solar power systems.

As can be seen from the adjoining diagram renewable energy currently comprises a very small proportion of our energy sources and solar is responsible for even less.

The NAPCC sets the solar mission a target of delivering 80% coverage for all low temperature (<150° C) applications of solar energy in urban areas, industries and commercial establishments, and a target of 60% coverage for medium temperature (150° C to 250° C) applications. The deadline for achieving this is the duration of the 11^th and 12^th five-year plans, through to 2017. In addition, rural applications are to be pursued through public-private partnership.

The NAPCC also sets the target of 1000 MW/annum of photovoltaic production from integrated facilities by 2017 as well as 1000 MW of Concentrating Solar Power generation capacity.

These efforts are to be backed by R&D to ensure that India develops commercial and near commercial solar technologies. The ultimate aim is to develop a solar industry that is competitive against fossil fuel options within the next 20-25 years.