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In Solar Power, India Begins Living Up to Its Own Ambitions
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/business/energy-environment/in-solar-power-india-begins-living-up-to-its-own-ambitions.html[font face=Times,Times New Roman,Serif][font size=5]In Solar Power, India Begins Living Up to Its Own Ambitions[/font]
[font size=1]Kuni Takahashi for The New York Times
About every five days, field hands with dust mops wipe down each of the 36,000 solar panels at a 63-acre installation operated by Azure Power in Khadoda, India.[/font]
By VIKAS BAJAJ
Published: December 28, 2011
[font size=3]KHADODA, India — Solar power is a clean energy source. But in this arid part of northwest India it can also be a dusty one.
Every five days or so, in a marriage of low and high tech, field hands with long-handled dust mops wipe down each of the 36,000 solar panels at a 63-acre installation operated by Azure Power. The site is one of the biggest examples of India’s ambitious plan to use solar energy to help modernize its notoriously underpowered national electricity grid, and reduce its dependence on coal-fired power plants.
Azure Power has a contract to provide solar-generated electricity to a state-government electric utility. Inderpreet Wadhwa, Azure’s chief executive, predicted that within a few years solar power would be competitive in price with India’s conventionally generated electricity.
“The efficiency of solar technology will continue to increase, and with the increasing demand in solar energy, cost will continue to decrease,” Mr. Wadhwa said.
…[/font][/font]
[font size=1]Kuni Takahashi for The New York Times
About every five days, field hands with dust mops wipe down each of the 36,000 solar panels at a 63-acre installation operated by Azure Power in Khadoda, India.[/font]
By VIKAS BAJAJ
Published: December 28, 2011
[font size=3]KHADODA, India — Solar power is a clean energy source. But in this arid part of northwest India it can also be a dusty one.
Every five days or so, in a marriage of low and high tech, field hands with long-handled dust mops wipe down each of the 36,000 solar panels at a 63-acre installation operated by Azure Power. The site is one of the biggest examples of India’s ambitious plan to use solar energy to help modernize its notoriously underpowered national electricity grid, and reduce its dependence on coal-fired power plants.
Azure Power has a contract to provide solar-generated electricity to a state-government electric utility. Inderpreet Wadhwa, Azure’s chief executive, predicted that within a few years solar power would be competitive in price with India’s conventionally generated electricity.
“The efficiency of solar technology will continue to increase, and with the increasing demand in solar energy, cost will continue to decrease,” Mr. Wadhwa said.
…[/font][/font]
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/29/business/energy-environment/lanterns-are-a-ready-example-of-solar-powers-potential.html
[font face=Times,Times New Roman,Serif][font size=5]Lanterns Are a Ready Example of Solar Power’s Potential[/font]
By VIKAS BAJAJ
Published: December 28, 2011
[font size=3]KHADODA, India — In sunny India, the ideal would be to harness solar power for both the nation’s utility grid and for the rooftops of homes, businesses and factories.
Solar-powered cooling systems, water heaters and other sun-powered uses could help the nation further reduce its carbon emissions, while saving Indians money.
But adoption of rooftop systems has been limited because of the large initial expense, even with government subsidies. A simple 10-kilowatt home system might cost $20,000, while a 1-megawatt industrial system could run $90 million or more. And the costs savings on electricity bills are realized only over time.
But lanterns, which are sun-charged by the day and used to help light the night, are a more ready and successful consumer application of solar power. Analysts and industry executives say annual sales in India have reached several hundred thousand of the lanterns, which sell for $5 to $8 at the low end of the market and $60 to $80 for sophisticated models using compact fluorescent bulbs.
…[/font][/font]
By VIKAS BAJAJ
Published: December 28, 2011
[font size=3]KHADODA, India — In sunny India, the ideal would be to harness solar power for both the nation’s utility grid and for the rooftops of homes, businesses and factories.
Solar-powered cooling systems, water heaters and other sun-powered uses could help the nation further reduce its carbon emissions, while saving Indians money.
But adoption of rooftop systems has been limited because of the large initial expense, even with government subsidies. A simple 10-kilowatt home system might cost $20,000, while a 1-megawatt industrial system could run $90 million or more. And the costs savings on electricity bills are realized only over time.
But lanterns, which are sun-charged by the day and used to help light the night, are a more ready and successful consumer application of solar power. Analysts and industry executives say annual sales in India have reached several hundred thousand of the lanterns, which sell for $5 to $8 at the low end of the market and $60 to $80 for sophisticated models using compact fluorescent bulbs.
…[/font][/font]
