Air pollution throws shade on India’s solar success

Air pollution throws shade on India’s solar success

Context:

• According to experts, air pollution is diminishing India’s capacity to harness power from the sun, undermining billions being invested in renewables as the energy-hungry giant emerges as a solar superpower.

Introduction:

• New research has found the smog and dust that sickens millions across India every year is also sapping solar power generation by more than 25 percent, far beyond levels previously thought.
• In the first study of its kind, U.S. and Indian scientists measured how man-made particles floating in the air and deposited as grime on solar panels combined to seriously impair sunlight from converting to energy.
• Presently in India,  it could amount to roughly 3,900 MW of lost energy — six times the capacity of its largest solar farm, a gigantic field of 2.5 million panels.
• Experts highlighted that these huge losses will only compound as India realises its grand solar ambitions.