India could get up to 7% power requirements from solar, says study

A study published by a global consultation firm KPMG has forecasted that solar power can meet 5-7 per cent of India’s total power requirements by 2021-22.

As of date the total installed capacity of grid connected solar power plants in India is 45.5 Mw, according to Minister of New and Renewable Energy Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Abdullah believes that the country has good potential for solar power as it receives solar energy equivalent to over 5,000 trillion kWh per year, which is far more than the total energy consumption of the country.

He said the daily average solar energy incident varies from 4 – 7 kWh per square meter of the surface area depending upon the location and time of the year. The Minister added that the solar radiation is available at most locations in the country for about 300 days in a year.

The government of India has launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in January 2010, which aims to set up 20,000 MW grid solar power by 2022 in addition to 2,000 MW of off-grid solar power.