Solar Energy and Health People in rural India still do not have access to grid-connected electricity and have to rely on kerosene, diesel and wood-burning stoves that pose many health risks to women and children. With reduced capital costs and innovative pricing schemes, solar power can be an attractive option. In general, solar energy can be deployed in a decentralized manner, with many applications: lighting, heating, water filtration and productivity. Solar lighting, for example, negates the use of kerosene lamps and all the dangers associated with them. The additional 4-5 hours of light provided by these solar lights can improve productivity and household income through the simple process of extending working hours. Clean water is a major challenge in rural India, as power is required to process water. Solar energy is also making inroads here. Nagaland recently installed a solar-powered water treatment plant at Sisema village near Kohima, which works on an advanced membrane filtration system to produce pure drinking water. Solar Energy and Livelihoods The movement from solar lights to solar microgrids to solar pumps is small, but highly effective. Solar microgrids are integrated networks that capture, store, and distribute clean solar energy to the entire community. Energy comes from a central ‘hub’ of high-quality solar panels and batteries, and each household draws energy from it. In India, solar microgrids are proving to be a cost-effective solution to an otherwise expensive problem. Tata Power is the leading renewable microgrid company in the country and plans to roll out 10,000 microgrids in the near future. It has so far installed about 200 microgrids, most of them in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and a pilot microgrid program is underway in 10-15 villages in Odisha. Microgrids help not only households but also shops, medical clinics (for refrigeration), electric mobility providers, telecom towers, education centers and roadside eateries, education, medicine and employment opportunities to raise the median income and standard of living for all households. India’s agriculture sector is heavily dependent on the monsoon for natural irrigation. Pumps are used as artificial means to deliver water for irrigation. Farmers depend on grid electricity or diesel gen-sets to run the pumps, causing long delays and financial strain. So, for our farmers, an effective irrigation system like solar water pump is a great boon. This increases their crop production by ensuring reliable and perennial water supply to their fields.
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Standalone solar powered agri pumps have the potential to increase the productivity of Indian farmers and provide an eco-friendly alternative to the 26 million agri pumps already in use. Of these, 10 million are diesel-powered. By replacing just 1 million diesel pumps with solar pumps, we can expect to reduce diesel consumption by 9.4 billion liters, which translates into direct savings for farmers. It also helps us save 25.3 million tons of CO2. Tata Power Solar offers a range of DC and AC solar water pumps in both surface and submersible categories to meet this requirement. These pumps help reduce farmers’ dependence on expensive fuel and their maintenance costs as opposed to conventional irrigation systems. With more than 76,000 pumps installed across India so far, our mission is to provide water assurance and financial security to all farmers in India. Tata Power is a paneled agency under the PM-KUSUM scheme to help our Indian farmers meet their irrigation needs even in the remotest corners of the country and guarantee them continuous income. Its solar pump solutions are now also available in the retail market to benefit the growing number of customers who want quick installation in rural, semi-rural or urban areas. Solar energy and solar technology are also impacting the rural youth by providing employment. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Indian solar sector created 1,15,000 job opportunities in 2018 and will continue to grow in the coming years. As the adoption of these systems increases, the demand for semi-skilled labor who can install and repair these systems will increase. Tata Power is skilling 3000 youth every year to work in renewable energy sector through Skill Development Institute and GOI is also investing in several advanced initiatives targeting renewable energy and rural youth.
Solar Energy and Indian Economy As the Indian economy grows and moves up the value chain, the demand for energy will increase. According to the 19th Electric Power Survey Report, the electricity consumption on an all-India basis has been assessed at 921 BU, 1300 BU and 1743 BU during the years 2016-17, 2021-22 and 2026-27 respectively. This is projected to increase to 3049 BU by 2036-37. Currently, India’s total power generation capacity in 2021-22 is only 1491 BU. Given that India will no longer add coal-fired power plants, the only economically viable way to meet this demand is through renewable energy. In 2019, India ranked fourth globally in installed renewable energy capacity, led by solar and wind power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of generating 450 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, five times the current capacity. If this is achieved, it means that India will generate 60% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, well above the Paris pledge of 40%. It will also mean that India will save on its fuel import bill when fuel prices are more uncertain than usual. According to the Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map, India alone offers over $700 billion in private investment opportunities in clean energy. Solar energy and the energy challenge facing India. India has an opportunity to show the world how an emerging economy can sustainably meet its energy needs for both its economy and environment. At the Paris Climate Conference, GoI raised eyebrows when the NDC mandated that 40% of its energy be generated from non-fossil fuel sources. However, GOI was able to fulfill this commitment because it has the support of private companies like Tata Power who are making huge strides in this regard. Apart from nearly 200 microgrids in rural areas, Tata Power has already completed over 1000MW in installed capacity through rooftop solar installations, making it India’s No. 1 solar EPC company for the past 8 years. Through this installation alone, Tata Power customers have saved up to 50% on their average electricity bill and saved 30 million+ tonnes of CO2. Through innovative pricing that minimizes upfront costs, full service installation and repair and a 25-year warranty, Tata Power is helping India move towards a green energy future one roof at a time. Tata Power is also setting up 4GW of solar cell and module manufacturing capacity with an investment of around Rs 3,400 crore. This will reduce India’s dependence on solar cell and battery imports. As of this writing, Tata Power has 5114 MW of clean energy capacity and 2000+ EV charging stations. Tata Power’s Clean Energy Incubator produces new clean and green energy startups, fueling the next wave of innovation in green energy technologies that will propel India to the forefront of global energy conservation, generation and sustainability.
conclusionFor Tata Power, the sustainability ethos runs deep. “Tata Power’s pillar of sustainability is rooted in the vision of our founder Jamshetji Tata 100 years ago. Our mission has always been to provide clean, abundant and affordable energy to the people of this country. It is even more relevant today when climate change is a global threat,” said Tata. Power’s CEO&MD Dr. Praveer Sinha said in a recent interview to News18 Network. Tata Power currently has 32% green energy in its portfolio and plans to increase it to 70% by 2030 and 100% by 2045. Tata Power is the first company in India to have a green energy portfolio by 2045. A net zero target has been set. However, they want to instill in the larger society the belief that sustainable is attainable; making a sustainable lifestyle ‘attainable’ for millions of Indians through widespread adoption of green products and solutions. As India increases its capacity to generate energy from clean sources and Indian consumers and As businesses increasingly opt for green energy, India is moving towards a future where it leads the world by example.
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