Jain Irrigation Jalgaon

India is both densely populated and has high solar insulation, offering a perfect combination for solar energy in India. Much of the country does not have a grid, then one of the first applications of solar energy has been pumping water, to begin replacing India four to five million diesel pumps water supplied each consuming about 3.5 kilowatts, and off-grid lighting. Some major projects have been proposed, and 35,000 sq. km area of the Thar desert has been set aside for solar energy projects, enough to produce 700 to 2,100 gigawatts.

In July 2009, India has unveiled a 19 billion plan to produce 20 GW of solar by 2020. Under the plan, solar equipment and applications would be mandatory in all government buildings, including hospitals and hotels.
November 18, 2009, it was reported that India is ready to launch its Solar Mission as part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, with plans to produce 1,000 MW of energy by 2013.

Annual insulation:

With about 300 clear sunny days in a year, India received theoretical solar energy, just on its surface is about 5 PWH / year. The daily average incident solar energy in India varies from April to July with about kWh/m2 2.300 to 3.200 hours of sunshine per year, depending on location. It is much more than the total current energy consumption. For example, even assuming a conversion efficiency of 10% for PV modules, it will always be a thousand times greater than expected demand for electricity in India by 2015.

Current status:

Installed power

The amount of solar energy produced in India is only 0.4% compared to other energy resources. Connected solar power from June 2007 was only 2.12 MW. Financed by the Government of solar energy in India accounted about 6.4 megawatt-years in power from 2005. However, as of October 2009, India is currently ranked number one with the United States in terms of potential production capacity of solar electricity.

Still inaccessible

Solar power is currently prohibitive due to high initial costs of deployment. To spawn a thriving solar technology must be less competitive - ie reached parity with the cost of fossil fuels or nuclear. India is heavily dependent on coal and foreign oil - a phenomenon likely to continue until non-fossil fuels / renewable energy technology becomes economically viable in the country. The production cost varies from Rs 15 to Rs 30 per unit compared to around Rs 2 to Rs 6 per unit of conventional thermal energy.

Government policy:

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched programs and incentives - such as grants, soft loans, fees on concessional imports of raw materials, exemption from excise duty some devices / systems, etc. - to Europe and Asia.

Thar Desert:

In 1996, Amoco / Enron Solar Power Development plans to build a plant of 50 MW solar PV in the Thar desert near Jaisalmer in the state of Rajasthan. Two other projects have been proposed, including a 50 MW photovoltaic plant and another 200 MW solar chimney. None of them have been completed. The Rajasthan government, however, has set aside one km 35,000 m² surface of the Thar desert for solar energy. Astonfield Rajasthan Solar Pvt Ltd, promoted by Astonfield Group of Companies began to develop the first solar photovoltaic project in Rajasthan, which will enter service in early 2010.

PV manufacturing in India:

Current PV manufacturing in India includes:
aec Titan Energy Systems Ltd., Hyderabad
aec Sharp (Japan). Tata BP joint venture.
aec Moser-Baer has signed a polysilicon plant prov thin film.