The billion-dollar solar story has just begun

The idea of a ‘solar revolution’ – whereby  we will all use free electricity from the sun, which is the biggest source of renewable energy on the planet – has an alluring ring to it, and the hope that  it will come true someday has become stronger over time. At this point, the  possibilities are limitless – on a bright, sunny day, the sun’s rays emit  approximately 1,000 watts of energy per square metre of the planet’s surface.  All our homes and offices can be powered for free if only this energy were to  be harnessed.

So, how do we get up to using the sun’s  energy on a daily basis? And how do we make the process of converting the sun’s  energy directly into electricity cost-effective?

Solar  means green and free
First, let’s understand the process. The  solar cells that one sees on calculators and satellites are also called photovoltaic (PV) cells, which, as the name implies (photo = ‘light’ and  voltaic = ‘electricity’), convert sunlight directly into electricity. Calculators  with solar cells never need batteries – so long as there is light, they work. A
module is a group of cells connected electrically and packaged into a frame  (commonly known as a solar panel), which can then be grouped into solar arrays.  Solar panels can be seen on emergency road signs and buoys, and even in parking  lots to power the lights.

PV cells are made of semiconductors such as  silicon. When light strikes the cell, the energy of the absorbed light is  transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, which then  flow freely. PV cells also have one or more electric field that acts to force these  free-flowing electrons to travel in a certain direction. This flow of electrons  is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV  cell, this current can be drawn for external use.

Solar  lamps are funky and functional
The most important point: Solar power does not  use fossil fuels, a nonrenewable energy source. As the environmental  consequences of industrialization and unbridled consumerism start to become  visible and pose a very real threat to the long-term well-being of our precious  planet, ensuring a sustainable future becomes each individual’s responsibility  and commitment. As they say, it is now or never. ‘Carbon footprint’ cannot  remain an aloof term any longer and we cannot but be aware of the energy we use  each day. Additionally, as the price of fossil fuels and other nonrenewable  energy sources keeps moving up, consumers are anyway being forced to think  about other sources of energy.

In rural areas and remote locations where electricity  from conventional sources is not available”and in some cases remain beyond the  purchasing capability of households”solar lanterns are widely used. They are an
obvious viable alternative to kerosene lamps and candles.

A solar lantern consists of a photovoltaic  (solar) panel, a high-efficiency compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or LED light, a  rechargeable battery, and a charge control circuit. When exposed to light  during daytime, the solar energy is converted by the solar cells to electrical  energy and stored in the batteries. The charge control circuit prevents the  batteries from getting overcharged. A single charge is enough to operate the  lamp for at least 4 hours to 5 hours.

The performance of the battery  will keep getting upgraded as the technology is further fine-tuned. Already,  Austa’s solar lamp claims to be providing nearly 8 hours of running time with a  single charge. The lamp has LEDs that give out light 360 degrees, which means  that there are no dark corners in the room. This is the reason why the lamp can  be useful even in city homes. Today, many urban households anyway use CFLs  because of their energy-saving benefits. CFLs can save up to 40 per cent  electricity, but in most cases one CFL is not enough for a whole room. Most  households end up using multiple CFLs in each room, in a way compromising the  electricity saving benefits.

The CFL lamp usually works for 3 years to 4  years. The sealed lead acid gel battery is designed to work for several  charging and discharging cycles. Some lanterns are designed to be charged from  mains electricity using an AC adapter. Austa’s solar lamp is one such. Further,  the portable lamp is so designed as to be shielded against dust and water  sprays. The PV cells are encapsulated within weather-proof packaging. The solar  panel can be kept outside during rainy weather as well. All of these features  make the product nearly maintenance-free”all that is required is the occasional  wiping of the solar panel to keep it free from dust, dirt, and debris, to allow the battery to charge properly.

Solar  impact
The market for lights in India is  massive”500 million Indians live in villages. Based on data given out by the
power ministry, there were 105,379 un-electrified villages as on 30 June 2008.  There is more to the story and the numbers, though. The Planning Commission  describes a village as ‘electrified’ if even a percentage of its residents have  power supply. Thus, if one house in 10 is electrified, the village is  considered powered. That leaves nine unlit homes”all potential customers of  solar.

The stated objective of the Indian  government’s Remote Village Electrification (RVE) programme is to electrify all  the remote census villages and remote hamlets of electrified census villages  through non-conventional energy sources such as solar energy, small hydro  power, biomass, wind energy, hybrid systems, etc. Under the programme, the  ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE) provides central financial  assistance (CFA) of up to 90 per cent of the total cost for solar PV home  lighting (subject to a maximum of Rs 11,250 per household) and street lighting  system.

With limited grid access in most parts of  rural India, decentralized off-grid solar and other non-conventional
applications provide a promising”and perhaps the only workable”solution to immediately  meet the lighting needs of rural households. Rising energy demand, mandate for  remote rural lighting and electrification, increasing emphasis on clean  technologies to combat greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing policy
support, and decreasing costs of solar electricity will provide the impetus to  ensure that off-grid solar applications grab a larger market share in the near  future.

Moreover, positioned against polluting and  potentially hazardous kerosene lamps, solar off-grid lighting applications are  set to become economically viable in the near future. As per National Sample  Survey Organisation (NSSO) 2008, about 39 per cent of households in rural India  still use kerosene to meet their lighting requirements. Kerosene lamps  generally provide poor-quality light, produce greenhouse gas emissions, and have  significant health and safety hazards associated with their use.

Solar-powered lights represent a clean and  completely functional substitute to kerosene and other nonrenewable energy  sources, both for domestic and commercial lighting in rural areas. Lighting  solutions using solar technology can be as simple as a solar lantern or  complete solar home lighting systems. A solar lantern containing a small  fluorescent or LED light with a rechargeable battery is an energy upgrade for  kerosene lamp users. A solar home system that can power light bulbs and basic  electrical appliances such as cell phones and small televisions score still  higher on the energy ladder.

While the solar lanterns involve a much  higher upfront cost as compared to kerosene lanterns, they present significant  advantages. A comparison between the two is illustrated here.

Comparison  of solar and kerosene lanterns

Source: Chaurey, A. and T.C. Kandpal, ‘Solar  lanterns for domestic lighting in India: Viability of central charging station  model’. Energy Policy (2009)

With the prices of solar products trending  downwards throughout the developing world, and with payment solutions such as  small loans becoming available to meet the costs of upfront investment, the  off-grid market is being viewed as a great business opportunity in an overall  market worth billions of dollars. With more and more solar companies bringing  energy to underserved populations, both parties stand to gain handsomely.

Note:
Austa solar lights manufacturers are looking for special partnerships with corporate groups to align their CSR initiatives as well as collaborations with NGOs.  Interested organizations may write to Harish Mehta at [email protected] or to  [email protected].

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