Category Solar Energy

WHICH IS THE FIRST CARBON NEUTRAL VILLAGE IN INDIA?

Palli, a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s border district of Samba, became India’s first “carbon-neutral panchayat on April 24, 2022, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicating to the nation a 500-kilowatt solar plant. Palli, according to the Prime Minister, has shown the way to the country by becoming carbon neutral. But what is carbon neutrality and how can it be achieved? Let’s find out.

What is carbon neutrality?

We all know that carbon dioxide emissions are one of the primary causes of climate change and an increasingly warming planet. Carbon-neutrality is the state of achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put out into the atmosphere and those removed. The term ‘Net-zero’ is sometimes used instead of carbon neutrality and they broadly mean the same. Increasingly, countries, companies, and organisations have been committing to achieve carbon-neutrality or net-zero carbon emission through measures such as reforestation and artificial carbon sequestering. But some environmental activists have criticised such offsetting measures as an excuse to continue polluting. If you’ve been wondering about the benefits of achieving carbon neutrality, there are many such as less pollution, improved air quality, better health and environment, green jobs, reducing the impact of climate change, and a greener planet.

How can it be achieved?

Carbon neutrality can be achieved by reducing the use of fossil fuels and by adopting renewable energy sources, by developing energy-efficient technologies, by adopting massive reforestation or tree-planting measures and by investing in technologies such as carbon sequestration that can remove carbon from the atmosphere. By the way, carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide underground permanently and safely. However, no technology or quantity of trees planted could offset the emissions currently generated globally, unless every country and every household is part of this solution.

Palli’s feat

The unassuming village of Palli has made history by becoming India’s first carbon-neutral solar village. It has achieved this feat with the installation of a 500-kilowatt solar plant. According to reports, the project was finished in record time (of nearly three weeks) at a cost of Rs. 2.75 crore. Under the central government’s ‘Gram Urja Swaraj’ programme, as many as 1,500 solar panels put up on an area of 6,408 square metres will provide clean electricity to 340 homes in the model panchayat.

The green energy generated will be distributed to the village through the local power grid station, which has a daily requirement of 2,000 units.

Picture Credit : Google 

WHICH IS THE LARGEST SOLAR PARK IN THE WORLD?

Bhadla Solar Park is the largest solar park in India and in the world. Located in Bhadla, north of Jodhpur, it spans 14,000 acres, with over 10 million solar panels contributing to an operational capacity of 2245MW. The panels are cleaned by robots and monitored by humans. Bhadla is a sandy, arid region described as “almost unlivable” with normal temperatures of 46-48°C, and frequent hot winds and sandstorms. The region receives a good amount of radiation ideal for the generation of solar energy.

The entire project was divided into four phases. In the first phase of the park’s establishment, solar panels were established to produce 65 MW of energy in capacities ranging from 5 MW to 25 MW. The following step of the project comprised of commissioning of the second phase of 680 MW. The first two phases of the park were developed by the Rajasthan Solar Power Park Company Limited. Saurya Urja Company of Rajasthan developed the third instalment. The project’s final stage was designed by Adani renewable energy park for the capacity of 500 MW.

The auction conducted for Bhadla Solar Park recorded the price per unit fall to as low as ?2.62. Surprisingly, the price is lower than National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited’s price of ?3.20 per unit. The Indian Express quoted a senior official, “Bhadla Ph-IV Solar Park results in a historic lowering of tariffs. Phelan Energy (50MW) and Avaada Power (100 MW) have bagged projects at Rs 2.62/unit. Softbank Cleantech has won 100 MW capacity at Rs 2.63/unit”.
India’s has strongly started working in the direction of producing solar energy in recent years. Currently, there are over 30 massive solar projects at various stages in the country. With investments in solar projects, India is consistently working towards reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuels. Moreover, in rural areas, solar-powered lighting is proving much more beneficial than indoor lighting by kerosene. In June 2021, PM Narendra Modi said that India had increased its renewable energy capacity by 250 per cent since 2014. India has one of the fastest-growing populations and economies, which would directly benefit from increased renewable energy resources.

Credit : The logical indian

Picture Credit : Google 

Which is India’s first solar powered city?

Diu is now India’s first and only city that is completely solar powered and the first Smart City in India to run on 100% renewable energy. A 9-megawatt solar park has been built in Fudam area, spread over 50 acres, and solar panels have been installed on the rooftops of government buildings. Diu’s peak time demand for electricity goes up to 7 megawatts and it generates about 10.5 megawatts of electricity from solar energy daily.

Diu is all set to have four windmills by 2019 which would generate 6.8 megawatts energy. With a combination of solar and wind energy powering it, Diu will become an energy self-sufficient island.

Solar installed capacity in India has reached 20 GW in February 2018, expanding the solar-generation capacity by eight times from 2,650 MW on 26 May 2014 to over 20 GW as on January 31, 2018.

Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala are some of the states with solar cell panel rooftops.

In order to conserve energy and curb itself from heavy electricity export bills, most populated countries like China and India are planning to use solar panel rooftops.

China leads the race in solar energy, followed by Japan, Germany, United States, Italy, United Kingdom, India, France, Australia, Spain, respectively, among many others.

Credit : India Today 

Picture Credit : Google