Solar energy in India

NEW DELHI, INDIA: India is well endowed with solar radiation with about 300 clear sunny days in a year in most parts of the country. The daily average solar radiation received in different parts of the country is in the range of 4-7 kWh/m2.

The capital costs for setting up one megawatt capacity grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plant and solar thermal power plant during 2010-11 have been estimated by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, as Rs 16.90 crores and Rs 15.30 crores, respectively.

The Government has approved the target to set up 1,100 MW grid-connected solar power plants, including 100 MW capacity plants as rooftop and small solar plants, 200 MW capacity equivalent off-grid solar applications and 7 million square metres of solar thermal collector area for the first phase of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission till March, 2013.

One megawatt peak capacity Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) power plant is expected to generate about 1.66 million units of electricity per year and one megawatt capacity Solar Thermal power plant is expected to generate about 2.0 million units of electricity per year, under the average Indian conditions.

This information was given by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Monday.