Access to electricity and electric reliability is a service that Americans take for granted. While we search for ways to diversify our energy portfolio to include renewable energy to offset our carbon footprint and move towards energy independence, Indians in rural environments turn to solar technology to meet their needs for electricity when their electric infrastructure can not.
Solar technology does not come cheap to these rural patrons. A two light Selco home system costs 8,500 to 11,000 rupees or $180 to $235 and the consumers of this product earn 3,500 to 4,000 rupees a month. The producer of the solar lighting system works with a variety of local rural banks to help 85% of its customers get financing.
From a macro perspective, sustainable energy is becoming evermore important in the Indian energy portfolio. India imports more than 70% of its oil and natural gas and relies on coal for more than half of its electricity generation. With economic growth forecast to exceed 8 percent this year, India’s energy consumption is expected to double by 2030. Obviously, such growth comes with a price. India was among the world’s largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions in 2007 and that will undoubtedly continue to grow as the country continues to develop.
As part of a response to address climate change the Indian government laid out an ambitious National Solar Mission. The Indian government plans to increase solar energy capacity to 1,000 megawatts by 2013 and 20,000 megawatts by 2022. This is a lofty goal as the current capacity for solar technology on the country’s electric grid is no more than 15 megawatts.
India faces the same issues that we face in the U.S. regarding renewable energy. The cost of solar technology is more than coal powered electricity, access to financing and supportive government policy are all hurdles that we share with India.
As previously mentioned, one way to bypass the hurdles of adding solar energy to the power grid is to provide the benefits directly to customers that cannot rely on the grid in the first place. Solar technology companies are seeking ways to power other appliances in Indian homes such as a stove, bringing electricity to their homes when there might not be access to it or there is poor service reliability. With an average of 250 to 300 sunny days each year, Solar technology certainly seems like a viable option. However, India’s government and private sector will have to find creative ways to offset the obstacles that are keeping this sector from expanding.
Pmuntaner ~ This is a HUGE issue across the developing world. In the U.S. and Europe, we're used to huge energy congolmerates who make power consistently available via a grid system across the country. The government provides one set of regulations on the safety and best business practices (preventing, supposedly, against monopolies) of these businesses. But, in this possible in the developing world? Might it the solution be in decentralizing the issue, so that localities must have the best sources of energy for their reason and figure out amongst the state or district how they are going to regulate that energy power? Am I making sense?
ReplyDelete