Context: A study by IIT Delhi highlights how air pollution and climate change will reduce India's solar power generation capacity. The study focuses on the impact of solar radiation, temperature rise, and air pollution on solar panel efficiency in India.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Factors Affecting Solar Energy Efficiency; India's RE Target.
India's Installed Solar Capacity and Targets
- As of 2024, India is the third-largest solar power producer globally, after China and the US.
- India aims to generate 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and install 500 GW of renewable energy capacity, with solar energy playing a key role.
Factors affecting Solar Energy Efficiency:
- Solar Radiation is the primary factor affecting solar cell performance.
- Solar radiation at the earth’s surface undergoes significant long-term variations due to atmospheric variables such as clouds, aerosols or particulate matter, water vapour, and radiatively active gas molecules such as ozone.
- Clouds reflect and aerosols either scatter or absorb incoming solar radiation reaching the surface. On a cloudy or hazy day, due to particulate matter pollution, less solar radiation will impinge on the solar panel and reduce solar generation.
- Air pollution blocks solar radiation from reaching solar panels, resulting in less power produced. India has 300 sunny days a year but their quality is declining due to air pollution.
- Rising temperatures due to climate change also lower the efficiency of solar cells. Solar panels are designed to operate efficiently at a specific temperature range, typically around 25°C. The efficiency of solar panels tends to decrease as temperatures rise above 25°C.
- Wind speed and airflow also affect cooling, but have a lower impact than other factors.
Major Highlights of the Study
- Research Methodology: Used 1985-2014 data to project 2041-2050 scenarios based on NASA’s CERES project and IMD data.
- Two scenarios studied :
- Moderate climate action, weak pollution control → Greater efficiency loss.
- Weak climate action, strong pollution control → Lesser efficiency loss (2.3% drop).
- Estimated power loss of at least 840 gigawatt-hours per year due to efficiency drop.
- Regional variations in solar potential were highlighted, with Northeast India and Kerala expected to have higher solar energy output due to reduced cloud cover.
Significance of the study:
- It provides valuable insights for policymakers and the solar industry to select better sites for future projects.
- It highlights the need for strong climate action and air pollution control measures.
Way Forward
To mitigate the impact of air pollution and climate change on India's solar energy generation, the following policy measures can be adopted :
- Enforce stringent emission norms for industries and vehicles, and implement dust control measures in urban and industrial areas.
- Expand real-time air pollution monitoring networks to track and mitigate sources of pollution affecting solar efficiency.
- Invest in R&D for heat-resistant photovoltaic (PV) cells, self-cleaning panels with better cooling mechanisms, and hybrid solar-wind solutions.
- Diversification of Solar Installations in cleaner air regions like the Northeast and coastal areas.
- Promote floating solar installations on reservoirs and lakes to reduce dust accumulation and improve efficiency.
- Implement large-scale tree plantation drives to absorb pollutants and regulate temperatures.
- Strengthen participation in global initiatives like the Paris Agreement and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for funding and technology support.
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality are essential for maximising solar power generation.