[Answered] Solar power is a major prong of India’s commitment to address global warming. In the light of the statement, highlight the challenges faced by India in achieving its targets with regard to solar energy.

Many regions in India are blessed with abundant sunlight for more than 200 days of the year. This is due to India’s prominent location near the Equator. Solar power is a major point of India’s commitment to address global warming according to the terms of the Paris Agreement, as well as achieving net zero, or no net carbon emissions. The rising energy needs, falling costs, persistent energy deficit, government’s heavy subsidies, preference for eco-friendly technology are some of the reasons for the demand for solar energy.

Challenges:

• Regulatory roadblocks: Slow growth has been primarily caused by the absence or withdrawal of state-level policy support, especially for the business and industrial segment, which makes up the bulk of target consumers.
• Limits to net-metering: Net metering allows surplus power produced by solar systems to be fed back into the grid. Discoms compensate consumers for this surplus power they provide against their electricity bills but often they violate the Power Purchase Agreements.
• Import Dependence: Due to the high cost of solar power generation taxes on imported cells and modules, a lot of the premium equipments used in a solar power plant had to be imported. However, trying to compete with China’s strong manufacturing base still poses a huge challenge.
• Land availability: Solar plants require a large amount of contiguous land to set up. This is particularly challenging in a country like India due to the land ownership issues, local politics and terrains.
• Financing mechanism: Public and private sector banks too are reluctant to lend. There are banking restrictions, financing issues plus delays in or rejection of open access approval grants.
• Lack of indigenous R&D: It makes further development difficult as India has to be dependent on international cooperation for technology.
• Waste management: Currently, India does not have a solar waste disposal policy and needs one on the lines of e-waste, where the guidelines are set for proper disposal or recycling of waste generated by the solar industry.

Way forward:

• There is need for focused, collaborative and goals driven R&D to help India attain technology leadership in solar power generation.
• The better financing infrastructure, model, training and development of human resources can ensure the growth of solar power generation.