| Let us first understand what energy is. We need | | | | with the requirement of a further 10,000 MW in |
| energy to move about and work. We need | | | | the next 10 years. There are environmental |
| healthy food to get that energy. The plants | | | | concerns about coal-base power plants, related to |
| convert the sunlight and water into energy to | | | | its emissions of particulate matters, sulfur dioxide, |
| grow. On the other hand, we use energy to | | | | nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, methane and other |
| travel from place to place in a car or in a plane, | | | | gases. As regards the other alternative, |
| and it is this energy that we use to light and heat | | | | Hydro-power plants can lead to degradation of |
| our homes. We use the energy stored in fuels, | | | | soil, erosion, destruction of forest, wildlife |
| when gasoline is used to power the car. The | | | | displacement, and most important of all |
| engine in the car transforms energy in fuel to | | | | displacement of human habitats. The Indian |
| work on the wheels, for the car to move. | | | | Government has put the use of renewable |
| The energy that we put to use every day | | | | energy in its top priority list to encounter the |
| comes from the Earth's natural resources, and | | | | shortfalls envisaged. |
| these resources could be classified into two | | | | Being a tropical and sub-tropical region, most part |
| categories; renewable and non-renewable energy. | | | | of the country experiences a clear sunny |
| It is the energy that we can use over and over | | | | weather, over 250 to 300 days a year. This is |
| again, which we call renewable energy, for | | | | comparable to the annual global radiation, which |
| example wood. We get more and more wood by | | | | varies from 1600 to 2200 kWh/sq.m, which |
| growing trees, the source is far from running out | | | | provides an equivalent energy potential of about |
| at present. But, as far as gasoline is concerned, | | | | 6,000 million GWh per year. According to the |
| the resource has already started to deplete, and | | | | report maintained by the India Meteorological |
| the energy that we get from fuel is a | | | | Department, the state of Rajasthan and Gujarat |
| non-renewable energy. | | | | receives the highest annual global radiation, and |
| The solar power is now being used to generate | | | | with a large part of the land in the state of |
| the much wanted electricity using the photovoltaic | | | | Rajasthan being barren and scarcely populated, it |
| energy, converting the Sun's rays to generate | | | | has become a suitable site for large central power |
| electric power. These photo cells are devices, | | | | stations based on solar energy. |
| made from silicon alloys, which produce electric | | | | In the sunny state of Rajasthan, the Indian |
| energy when the Sun light falls on it. The Sun's | | | | Government is about to complete a huge new |
| rays are composed of photons, which contain | | | | power station using hybrid systems. This fossil |
| various degree of energy, and this energy | | | | fuel/solar hybrid power plant is poised to generate |
| corresponds to the different wave-lengths of the | | | | a huge 140 megawatts of electric power, out of |
| solar spectrum. When the sunlight strikes a | | | | which 40 megawatt will be produced from a large |
| photocell, the photons falling on it either gets | | | | array of solar parabolic troughs. The technology, |
| absorbed, reflected, or pass through. It is those | | | | which is much more cost effective than |
| photons that get absorbed produces electricity. | | | | photovoltaic cells, uses large parabolic mirrors to |
| As the Sun's rays strike the surface of the | | | | focus the sunlight to heat a thermal media, like, |
| photovoltaic cell, electron migration takes place, | | | | gas or steam, which in turn drives a turbine |
| and this creates imbalance of charge, which | | | | generator. The project cost runs to about $1 |
| appears as a voltage potential at the output. A | | | | million per megawatt and is still considered to be |
| large array of thee photovoltaic cells are used to | | | | cheaper than the others. |
| produce enough electricity to light up a small | | | | In setting up a solar thermal plant in the state of |
| house. The Sun light is therefore a renewable | | | | Rajasthan, there are a few points to be proved, |
| energy source, which could be harnessed to | | | | and these include: |
| provide power. | | | | - The operational viability of the technology used. |
| India's total installation of power capacity is a little | | | | - Development of solar power energy for an |
| over 124,000 MW and out of that 60% is coal | | | | expected significant reduction in operating costs. |
| based, with hydro at 25%, and the rest are | | | | - Contribute efficiently towards clean energy, and |
| coming from gas and nuclear energy. Power | | | | help to reduce greenhouse effect in the long run. |
| shortfall has been estimated at 11% of the total | | | | The operational viability of the solar energy |
| energy, and 15% of the peak capacity | | | | thermal power plant is hoped to be demonstrated |
| requirements. These are likely to increase. It has | | | | through commercial power sales and delivery |
| been recently announced that the country would | | | | arrangements with the grid. The technical |
| be facing a sudden power shortage of 70,000 | | | | development of the system is planned to be |
| MW, and several measures are being taken by | | | | achieved through technical assistance and training. |
| the Indian Government to avert the shortfall. | | | | The power plant is a step forward to a long term |
| However, the power sector planning estimates, | | | | program, for promoting the objective focused on |
| that another 10,000 MW of capacity will be | | | | climate change. |
| required by the country in the in the near future, | | | | |