We all love to see a world in which solar energy will be the main source of energy. We all want it but still solar energy is not viable or economically feasible. So, the production and consumption of solar energy is still negligible in the world. However, one country is making good progress in using solar energy-
Currently, around 30,000 rural households are being connected to national electricity grid every year. In contrast distributed energy systems supply 45,000 new households every year with access to biogas, micro hydro or Solar Home System (SHS).
Solar Home System (SHS) is a form of alternative energy that is being widely used in rural
. For population that lack central grid connection, SHS has provided a viable alternative. "Alternative electricity generating technologies for off-grid rural households are domestic gasoline powered 1-5 kW generators, solar home system (SHS) ranging in size between 15 and 60 W and small battery charging through 10-150 W wind turbines. Gasoline powered generators have high investment and operating cost and most of the sites are not suitable for wind turbines. Compared to other solar Photo Voltaic (PV) technology is found more appropriate for electrification of off-grid households of rural Nepal . Solar Home system is found the cost-effective choice and matches need of target population well," according to the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC). Nepal Experts say that
has immense potential of tapping solar energy. The country has, on average, 6.9 sunshine hours per day totaling 2482 sunshine hours per year. The solar energy potential here is around 4.5 kwh/sq. m./ day. Nepal
The best thing in
I dont know about the other nations you mentioned but I can talk about India. India has dozens of companies manufacturing and selling solar photovoltaic cells and other solar equipment including hybrid solar-wind systems. Some state governments have made solar power heaters mandatory in buildings. The government offers a 50% subsidy on installation of solar or wind power equipment for residential or commercial use. The Indian Ministry for Non-Conventional Energy Sources is pushing for a renewable energy Special Economic Zone which would give a huge push to the manufacture of solar power equipment in the country.
Finally, the Ernst and Young Country Competitiveness Index rates India the second-most attractive country for renewable energy technology investments.
My point is that India certainly is doing more than a lot of other countries in popularizing solar power - of course a lot more could still be done.
Posted by: Kiran | February 22, 2007 6:26 PM | Permalink to Comment