A new independent report by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) emphasizes that more than 25 crore households in India possess the potential to harness 637 GW of solar energy capacity on rooftops. Released on Thursday, the CEEW report delves into the significant implications for India’s energy transition.
Enormous Solar Potential
Total Solar Technical Potential: The CEEW report unveils that the total solar technical potential on residential rooftops could reach 637 GW across India. This staggering figure sets the stage for a substantial contribution to the nation’s energy needs through rooftop solar.
Feasibility and Challenges
Support Needed for Low-Consumption Slabs: While deploying one-third of the total solar technical potential could meet the entire electricity demand of India’s residential sector (around 310 TWh), the report underscores economic feasibility challenges for low-consumption slabs. Financial support is deemed necessary to make solar economically viable for this segment.
Reduced Potential After Factoring in Consumption: The technical potential decreases to one-fifth (118 GW) when the current electricity consumption of households is factored in. This adjustment highlights the need for realistic assessments that consider the existing energy landscape.
Current Rooftop Solar Landscape
Installed Capacity and Residential Sector Share: As of now, India boasts an installed rooftop solar capacity of 11 GW, with only 2.7 GW attributed to the residential sector. The report sheds light on the existing gap between potential and actual residential rooftop solar deployment.
Geographical Distribution and Rural Emphasis
Concentration in Seven States: The report’s bottom-up analysis across 21 Indian states reveals that 60% of the residential rooftop potential is concentrated in seven states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Rural vs. Urban Potential: Geographically, India’s rooftop solar potential is widespread, especially in rural areas. Rural zones show higher technical potential based on residential rooftop area (363 GW) compared to urban areas across states (274 GW).
CEEW’s Recommendations
Capital Subsidies and Awareness Campaigns: CEEW recommends introducing targeted capital subsidies for consumers, particularly for rooftop solar systems of 0-3 kW. Recognizing systems below 1 kW in policies and regulations is also advised. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for creating a comprehensive platform for rooftop solar information at the state level and rolling out national awareness campaigns to stimulate demand.
CEO’s Perspective
Arunabha Ghosh’s Insight: Arunabha Ghosh, the CEO of CEEW, underscores the transformative potential of solar systems for households, both rural and urban. He emphasizes the importance of offering attractive incentives, ensuring convenient experiences, and generating awareness to drive market demand for solar products and capacities. Ghosh sees rooftop solar as a means not only for clean energy but also as a solution to fulfill the basic need for power access in households.
In conclusion, the CEEW report lays out a comprehensive roadmap for maximizing India’s residential rooftop solar potential, urging strategic interventions and policy adjustments to unlock the full benefits of solar energy across the nation.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
