| |December 202019By Vibhhas Verma, Founder & CEO, AqueoussTHINK GREEN, ACT CLEAN: UTILIZING THE POTENTIAL OF SOLAR ENERGY IN INDIAI ndia is at the forefront of the solar energy revolution. According to recent data, India's solar capacity reached 36.6GW at the end of the first quarter of 2020, with eyes set on reaching 100GW by 2022. The country receives abundant sunshine, which is about 300 sunny days in a year. Additionally, India is also home to a large energy-guzzling population, making it an ideal location for solar power generation.Moreover, the country's global standing as one of the most cost-efficient producers of solar power is reflected in its gradual shift towards renewable energy. The change in policy is aiding its journey towards a global goal of harnessing renewable energy at full capacity. Having recognized this early, the government has already taken steps to ensure consistent growth. This in turn has helped the solar industry reach economies of scale in a short span of time, making India one of the cheapest producers of solar power. Solar power is therefore the perfect driver for the nation's growth, coupled with the social objective of supplying electricity for all. GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PROMOTION"Electricity for all" can be achieved by meeting the target of 50GW solar power capacity by 2025. This means every village and household in India that is facing huge power cuts or lacks power connection will be provided electricity through off-grid solar plants, equipped with batteries. The journey, however, is not easy and requires a concerted effort from both the central and state governments, industries, and all the other stakeholders. The government is already promoting the use of solar energy as an alternative to other forms, by coming up with supportive policies, tenders, and economically viable cost structures.It is playing a critical role by encouraging the manufacturing of solar-powered goods domestically, in line with the latest innovations.THOUGHT CENTRAL
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