Resources are invaluable assets that sustain life on Earth, differing in their utility. They can be broadly categorized as renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are inexhaustible and capable of replenishing themselves, such as wind and solar energy. Conversely, non-renewable resources, such as gas and coal, are finite and limited in supply. The relentless over-exploitation of non-renewable resources at an unprecedented rate poses a significant threat to both humanity and the environment. With a heavy reliance on conventional sources of energy, non-renewable resources are being depleted at an alarming pace. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize the harnessing of alternative energy sources, such as solar power, to meet our current needs and ensure sustainability.
To mitigate the effects of climate change and the escalating emissions, governments worldwide recognize the pivotal role of non-conventional energy sources and applications. By 2030, the Indian government has committed to increasing the installed capacity of renewable energy in the country to 500 GW. Moreover, it aims to derive at least 60% of its renewable energy from solar power. With this objective in mind, the government of India launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) to address the growing needs and consumption demands. A significant endeavor to promote solar energy is the National Solar Mission, a collaborative initiative between the Indian government and state governments.
The National Action Plan on Climate Change incorporates the mission as one of its core policies. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched the program on January 11, 2010, naming it the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, with an objective of 20 GW by 2022. Later, in the 2015 Indian Union budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised this target to 100 GW. India’s utility solar power generation capacity increased from 2,650 MW on May 26, 2014, to 12,288.83 MW on March 31, 2017, representing an almost five-fold increase. In 2017–18, the nation added 9,362.65 MW, the highest ever. Considering only utility installed capacity, the initial goal of 20 GW was surpassed in 2018, four years ahead of schedule.
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission aims to position India as a global leader in solar energy by establishing the necessary legislative framework for its widespread adoption nationwide. It has set a target of 20,000 MW and mandates that this target be achieved in three phases for various components, including grid-connected solar power. The first phase spans from 2012 to 2013, the second from 2013 to 2017, and the third from 2017 to 2022. By 2022, the government committed to reaching 20 GW of installed solar capacity. It was proposed that this be accomplished in three stages. The first year of the 12th five-year plan, 2013, marked the beginning of the first phase. While the 13th five-year plan (2017–22) was intended to constitute the third phase, the second phase concluded in 2017.
The targets for the first phase were set at 1.4 GW, those for the second phase ranged from 11 to 15 GW, and those for the third phase were set at 22 GW by 2022. On July 1, 2015, the government revised the target from 20 GW to 100 GW. The yearly targets from 2015 to 2016 were also increased to achieve the 100 GW target by 2022. Approximately two and a half months after the mission’s launch on January 11, 2010, India had installed a solar capacity of 161 MW. Three months before the targets were revised, on March 31, 2015, India had reached 3,744 MW of installed solar capacity. As of June 30, 2021, India now has 6.1 GW of installed rooftop solar capacity. The MNRE has proposed utilizing 40 GW of rooftop solar projects and 60 GW of large- and medium-scale solar projects to achieve the expanded target of 100,000 MW.
Contextualizing Kashmir
At present, the solar industry in Jammu and Kashmir generates approximately Rs 50 crore in revenue annually. The Association of Solar Power Equipment Dealers of Kashmir reports that 70% of Srinagar’s gas pumps are now powered by solar energy. The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) spearheaded this initiative by requesting all of its pump owners to install solar power installations. Starting in 2011, there was a significant increase in the installation of home lighting systems in Kashmir, comprising a battery, an inverter, and a module (solar panel), particularly in non-electrified homes.
Approximately 140,000 houses in the private sector have installed Home Lighting Systems, with over 65% of these installations occurring in non-electrified homes. Based on this data, it is estimated that around 7 lakh individuals in Kashmir are solar power users, assuming an average household size of five people. Regarding products owned by rural residents, solar lanterns have surpassed home lighting systems as the most sought-after item on the market. A major solar equipment seller in Kashmir, Star Valley, sold almost 30,000 lanterns in 2022. Over the previous four years, the firm has sold an average of 25,000 lanterns annually, bringing the total number of lanterns sold in the last five years to approximately 130,000. The combined output of these lanterns, each with a 3-watt capacity, is around 390,000 watts (390 Kilowatts or 0.39 Megawatts).
According to another solar power vendor based in Sher-e-Khaas, his company has been selling solar power equipment with a 1 MW capacity in various forms since 2012. Over the past three years, his company has sold 50,000 9-watt lanterns to both government and non-governmental organizations. These lanterns were distributed to residents in rural Jammu and Kashmir, where access to electricity is limited to a few hours per season.
Indus Lights, another company offering solar technology, sold 10,000 Mini-Home Lighting Systems in 2022 alone. Each of these systems comes with two 5-watt bulbs. During the same period, the company also sold 20,000 lamps.
Initiatives
On February 29, the central government authorized the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana, with an estimated cost of Rs. 75,021 crore. The program aims to promote the nationwide installation of solar rooftop panels and provides free electricity to one crore families. For systems with a capacity of up to 2 kW, the program offers a subsidy of 60% of the solar unit cost; for systems with capacities between 2 and 3 kW, it provides a subsidy of 40% of the additional system cost.
Every month, homes will receive 300 units of free electricity. A household of this type can save between Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 1,875 on electricity bills by producing its own energy. Over the course of the 25-year lifespan of the rooftop system, the planned scheme will add 30 GW of solar capacity to the residential sector’s supply of solar energy, resulting in the production of 1000 BUs of electricity and a reduction of 720 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions.
To serve as an example for the adoption of rooftop solar in rural regions, the project also calls for the development of a Solar Village example in each district of the nation. According to the official release, the program is expected to directly create about 17 lakh jobs in manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, sales, installation, O&M, and other services.
With a total capacity of 27.61 MW, 1,900 buildings in Jammu and Kashmir currently have rooftop solar power plants installed, either by the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) or other authorities. By the end of 2025, rooftop solar power plants should be installed on the remaining 20,000 buildings, potentially adding another 300 MW to the total capacity. According to the CEO of JAKEDA, Saurabh Bhagat, government offices in the Union Territory have 22,494 registrations, with a sanctioned load of about 486 megawatts.
The installation of rooftop solar plants on private homes in Jammu and Kashmir has received approval from the Administrative Council, led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. In Jammu and Kashmir, the central government’s Grid Connected Solar Rooftop scheme was already in place. Under this program, the Union Ministry for Renewable Energy offers a 40% subsidy for the installation of solar plants with a maximum capacity of 3 KW. Since the government entered the market, an additional 25% of the cost of a solar plant up to 10 KW in capacity has been subsidized, bringing the effective cost to the customer of a 3 KW solar plant down from Rs 157,881 to just Rs 5,525. Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha’s Administrative Council of the government pays any of its 20 registered vendors the remaining sum of Rs 102,622.65 so they can install the plant on a residential property.
Even though the equipment’s anticipated lifetime is 25 years from the date of installation, the government is nevertheless offering a 5-year replacement warranty. In addition to supplying homes with electricity, a grid-connected rooftop solar plant can sell the energy it generates to the traditional electricity grid to which it is linked. Unlike home lighting systems, which charge batteries for later use, rooftop solar plants are used directly for energy production. According to official data, about 400 Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Plants have already been erected in Jammu & Kashmir.
Another government program currently in place in Jammu and Kashmir is the Solar Pumping Scheme for Farmers, which subsidizes irrigation pumps with a capacity of two to ten horsepower by 30% from the J&K government and 50% from the Union government, reducing the total cost of the program to only 30,000. The program aims to transition farmers from irrigation pumps powered by kerosene, diesel, and gasoline to those driven by solar energy, which will save money and improve the environment.
In line with this initiative is another flagship program known as The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM). This project allows individuals to construct solar power plants with a capacity of 0.5 MW to 2 MW on their vacant land. A 1 MW solar power plant would require 40 kanals of land for construction, and it would generate 15 lakh units of electricity annually.
When the Discom purchases from a solar plant, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission has set the rate at Rs 4 per unit, on which the Discom additionally receives a subsidy of about Rs 0.35. Official records show that under the PM-KUSUM project in Jammu and Kashmir, three individuals in the Kathua district, one in Doda, and one in Samba have donated land for the construction of solar power plants.
Major Issues
J&K continues to experience power outages, and aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses persist despite power reforms. The debt owed by the Power Development Corporation Limited (JKPDCL) is substantial. The Power Evacuation Infrastructure project has stalled due to a lack of finance. Due to a lack of payment security measures, larger private companies have been hesitant to invest in either of the Union Territories. Switching to solar energy systems, which require less upkeep and operation than traditional power plants, can potentially alleviate the financial burden on the power company.
Conclusion
It is becoming increasingly imperative to comprehend the efficiency, viability, and dependability of renewable energy sources as they gain traction in the power sector. Rooftop solar panels have played a significant role in meeting power demands by lowering transmission losses and stabilizing the power situation, providing a decentralized and dependable energy supply. Rooftop solar panels offer an additional, sustainable energy source to help close the energy gap. Adopting solar electricity aligns with international initiatives to promote sustainable development.
ReferencesÂ
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https://kashmirlife.net/kashmirs-sunrise-sector-vol-14-issue-40-307386/Â
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