Geography · Ch 13 — Mineral and Energy Resources
Solar Energy
Solar Energy
The sun is an immense and virtually inexhaustible source of energy. The key idea is that the rays from the sun can be captured and converted into usable power. This is done using photovoltaic cells, which directly turn sunlight into electricity. The energy produced through this process is called solar energy.
There are two main methods considered effective for tapping solar energy:
- Photovoltaics: This technology uses solar panels made of photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity.
- Solar Thermal Technology: This method uses the sun's heat to produce thermal energy, which can then be used for heating or to generate electricity.
Solar thermal technology holds several relative advantages over non-renewable energy sources. It is cost competitive, meaning its installation and running costs can match or beat those of conventional power. It is environment friendly, producing no emissions during operation. It is also easy to construct, making it accessible for a range of applications.
A specific point of comparison is efficiency. Solar energy is 7 per cent more effective than coal or oil-based power plants and 10 per cent more effective than nuclear plants. This effectiveness is not just about raw output but also considers factors like environmental impact and operational simplicity.
In practical use, solar energy is commonly applied in appliances such as:
- Heaters
- Crop dryers …
Newspaper clipping (shaded box) headlined 'India’s next agriculture revolution can happen under solar panels'. Sub-head: 'How Agrivoltaics presents us a rare opportunity to decarbonize the agriculture sector and achieve Just Transition.' Readable lead: 'In September 2023, India crossed 70,000 MW solar installed capacity making it one of the 5 countries in the world to reach this milestone. But we have a long way to go. It is now crystal clear that solar will be India’s energy future for day time electricity, peak time with storage, for powering electric mobility and for producing green hydrogen. We could be looking at 1500 GW by 2050 and studies even pr …
Newspaper clipping (shaded box) headlined 'India’s soaring solar growth proves renewables are the future'. Readable portion: '...solar energy accounted for 5.5% of electricity generation in the first half of 2023, marking a significant 16% increase compared to the same period last year, equivalent to an additional 104 terawatt-hours. India’s solar growth was even more impressive, with a 26% increase contributing an additional 12 teraw …
Newspaper clipping (shaded box) with a night photograph of an offshore platform, headlined 'ONGC begins ‘first oil production’ from deep-water block in Krishna–Godavari basin'. Sub-head: 'The block will help increase ONGC’s total production of oil and natural gas by 11% and 15% respectively; peak production of the field is expected to be around 45,000 barrels of oil per day and over 10 MMSCMD of gas.' Caption under the photo: …