Why Does India Needs to Take Solar Energy Initiatives from the Grassroots?
It is a matter of sublime tragedy for a country like India that receives ample sunshine throughout the year and still is dependent on non-renewable energy resources to meet her power demands. Although the solar energy generation process has improved, it is still far away from becoming the perfect replacement for traditional energy sources detrimental to the environment. What India and the world needs at the moment is a significant paradigm shift towards renewable sources of energy. And the development of solar energy in India seems remarkably viable.
Why from the Grassroots?
To place herself on the global energy stage, India must take initiatives from the grass root levels, i.e. bring solar energy by the common man, and for the common man. Not only will it lead to socio-economic infrastructure development, but will also lift the standard of living of her people. A countrywide solar development is possible only when the common man is encouraged to embrace solar energy. This is the best way to accelerate the solar development and make the bigger picture brighter than ever.
Rural India Offers Tremendous Opportunities
There are a large number of villages in India that are still not connected to the utility grid, and are in sheer darkness. There has been a significant decrease in the prices of solar systems, which is expected to decline further. Also have the quality of PV modules improved. These developments give a strong reason to the populace to adopt solar modules as a feasible and ideal source of energy replacing the traditional means of power generation. These positive developments have favorable implications, especially for the rural areas in India.
Solar Power for the Masses
There are nearly 12 states in India that have reached the grid parity for industrial and commercial sectors. The development of solar parks provides a great help to the common people as a feasible source of solar energy. Solar parks generate power on a large scale that plays a valuable role in reducing energy tariffs. Besides, solar parks can draw in investment that will be conducive for industrial infrastructure consequently enhancing solar power generation capacity. The power generated thus, will be easily available to the masses.
Government and Private Initiatives
There isn’t a dearth of initiatives, either from the government or from the private players in the solar spectrum. These initiatives have clear implications of transforming the Indian solar sector that can assure better power generation right from the grass roots. Things are improving constantly, however the development is still not as expected from the capability that we possess. The government will have to take strong measures in raising awareness. Apart from this, drafting more uniform policies can be an encouraging factor for rooftop solar installation. Net-metering is great mechanism which provides cost-effective returns to the asset owners. This mechanism can be further advanced and aided to help different states to achieve grid parity.
Conclusion
Solar energy in India is not a new phenomenon. It has been in use since decades; the development, however, has been a sporadic one, not uniformly located. India is afflicted with consistent energy scarcity with the demand and supply gap widening. In such a scenario, solar energy can gain momentum if measures, policies and awareness programs are introduced from the grassroot level and for the grassroot level populace of this country.
