Solar Energy Generation Potential Estimation in India and Gujarat, Andhra, Telangana States
Affiliation(s)
1 Gujarat Energy Research & Management Institute (GERMI), Gandhinagar, India. 2 Malla Reddy Engineering College, Hyderabad, India.
1 Gujarat Energy Research & Management Institute (GERMI), Gandhinagar, India. 2 Malla Reddy Engineering College, Hyderabad, India.
ABSTRACT
It is well known that the rampant increase for the demand of electricity and rapid depletion of the fossil fuels has called for immediate response in the direction of energy sufficiency. To accomplish this, one of the important tasks is to identify the locations of high potential for renewable energy generation. It is a well-established fact that solar energy proved to be the most sought after source for energy generation. Although, solar energy potential maps of India have been prepared based on solar irradiation maps in the earlier studies, the present research study has been carried out with a focused attention directly on solar energy generation considering various parameters. In this work it is shown that solar energy generation does not depend on solar radiation alone at a location. Instead, there are various other factors that influence the energy generation. Some of them are ambient temperature, wind velocity and other parameters like weather and topographic conditions. In this study the locations with high and low solar energy generation potential in India have been identified through systematic analysis by computing the solar energy parameters at every grid point (1° × 1°). The work has been extended with more detailed study for Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and the newly formed Telangana states. The data points considered for the states are 0.25° × 0.25° having resulted in adding more number of locations. Our results indicate that the total annual energy generation in India varies from 510,000 KWH to 800,000 KWH per acre of land. The least energy generation location pertains to the eastern parts of Arunachal Pradesh and eastern part of Assam and the highest annual solar energy generation has been identified in the eastern parts of Jammu & Kashmir and eastern part of Uttarakhand.
It is well known that the rampant increase for the demand of electricity and rapid depletion of the fossil fuels has called for immediate response in the direction of energy sufficiency. To accomplish this, one of the important tasks is to identify the locations of high potential for renewable energy generation. It is a well-established fact that solar energy proved to be the most sought after source for energy generation. Although, solar energy potential maps of India have been prepared based on solar irradiation maps in the earlier studies, the present research study has been carried out with a focused attention directly on solar energy generation considering various parameters. In this work it is shown that solar energy generation does not depend on solar radiation alone at a location. Instead, there are various other factors that influence the energy generation. Some of them are ambient temperature, wind velocity and other parameters like weather and topographic conditions. In this study the locations with high and low solar energy generation potential in India have been identified through systematic analysis by computing the solar energy parameters at every grid point (1° × 1°). The work has been extended with more detailed study for Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and the newly formed Telangana states. The data points considered for the states are 0.25° × 0.25° having resulted in adding more number of locations. Our results indicate that the total annual energy generation in India varies from 510,000 KWH to 800,000 KWH per acre of land. The least energy generation location pertains to the eastern parts of Arunachal Pradesh and eastern part of Assam and the highest annual solar energy generation has been identified in the eastern parts of Jammu & Kashmir and eastern part of Uttarakhand.
Cite this paper
Harinarayana, T. and Kashyap, K. (2014) Solar Energy Generation Potential Estimation in India and Gujarat, Andhra, Telangana States. Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, 5, 275-289. doi: 10.4236/sgre.2014.511025.
Harinarayana, T. and Kashyap, K. (2014) Solar Energy Generation Potential Estimation in India and Gujarat, Andhra, Telangana States. Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, 5, 275-289. doi: 10.4236/sgre.2014.511025.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.04.007 [2] Khare, V., Nerma, S. and Baredar, P. (2013) Status of Solar Wind Renewable Energy in India. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 27, 1-10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.06.018 [3] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India (2009) Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission towards Building SOLAR INDIA.
http://www.mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/mission_document_JNNSM.pdf [4] Goswami, D. (2012) India’s Solar Sunrise. Renewable Energy Focus, 13, 28-30.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1755-0084(12)70037-6 [5] BP Statistical Review of World Energy (2014). www.bp.com [6] European Photovoltaic Industry Association (2014) Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.12.017 [8] Raman, P., Murali, J., Sakthivadivel, D. and Vigneswaran, V.S. (2012) Opportunities and Challenges in Setting Up Solar Photovoltaic Based Micro Grids for Electrification in Rural Areas of India. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, 3320-3325.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.065 [9] Lal, S. and Raturi, A. (2012) Techno-Economic Analysis of a Hybrid Mini-Grid System for Fiji Islands. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 3, 10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2251-6832-3-10 [10] Oyedepo, S. (2012) Efficient Energy Utilization as a Tool for Sustainable Development in Nigeria. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 3, 1-12. [11] Zweibel, K. (2010) Should Solar Photovoltaics Be Deployed Sooner Because of Long Operating Life at Low, Predictable Cost? Energy Policy, 38, 7519-7530.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.07.040 [12] Sharma, P. and Harinarayana, T. (2013) Solar Energy Generation Potential along National Highways. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 4, 16.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186%2F2251-6832-4-16 [13] Din?er, F. (2011) Overview of the Photovoltaic Technology Status and Perspective in Turkey. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, 3768-3779.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.06.005 [14] Bhutto, A.W., Bazmi, A.A. and Zahedi, G. (2012) Greener Energy: Issues and Challenges for Pakistan—Solar Energy Prospective. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, 2762-2780.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.043 [15] Renewable Energy Policy Network, Renewables Global Status Report.
http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/activities/gsr/RE_GSR_2006_Update.pdf [16] Electricity Sector in India.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_India [17] PVSYST.
http://www.pvsyst.com/en/ [18] Surfer v11.
http://downloads.goldensoftware.com/guides/Surfer11TrainingGuide.pdf [19] Google Earth v7.1.2.2041.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Earth [21] Global Meteorological Database, Meteonorm Switzerland Version 6.1.0.23. [22] NASA, Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE). https://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/sse/ [23] Harinarayana, T. and Vasavi, K.S.V. (2014) Solar Energy Generation Using Agriculture Cultivated Lands. Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, 5, 31-42.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/sgre.2014.52004 [24] Maps of India.
http://www.mapsofindia.com/ [25] District Map of Gujarat, File.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_Gujarat_state_and_districts.png [26] District Map of Andhra Pradesh.
http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/andhrapradesh/andhrapradesh-district.htm [27] District Map of Telangana.
http://www.prokerala.com/maps/telangana-state-map.html [28] Solanki, C.S. (2011) Solar Photo-Voltaics: Fundamentals, Technologies and Applications. 2nd Edition. [29] SolarGIS.
http://solargis.info/doc/postermaps [30] Renewable Energy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy
[1] Ramachandra, T.V., Jain, R. and Krishnadasa, G. (2011) Hotspots of Solar Potential in India. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, 3178-3186.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.04.007 [2] Khare, V., Nerma, S. and Baredar, P. (2013) Status of Solar Wind Renewable Energy in India. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 27, 1-10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.06.018 [3] Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India (2009) Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission towards Building SOLAR INDIA.
http://www.mnre.gov.in/file-manager/UserFiles/mission_document_JNNSM.pdf [4] Goswami, D. (2012) India’s Solar Sunrise. Renewable Energy Focus, 13, 28-30.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1755-0084(12)70037-6 [5] BP Statistical Review of World Energy (2014). www.bp.com [6] European Photovoltaic Industry Association (2014) Global Market Outlook for Photovoltaics.
http://www.epia.org/news/publications/ [7] Sharma, A. (2011) A Comprehensive Study of Solar Power in India and World. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, 1767-1776.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.12.017 [8] Raman, P., Murali, J., Sakthivadivel, D. and Vigneswaran, V.S. (2012) Opportunities and Challenges in Setting Up Solar Photovoltaic Based Micro Grids for Electrification in Rural Areas of India. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, 3320-3325.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.065 [9] Lal, S. and Raturi, A. (2012) Techno-Economic Analysis of a Hybrid Mini-Grid System for Fiji Islands. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 3, 10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2251-6832-3-10 [10] Oyedepo, S. (2012) Efficient Energy Utilization as a Tool for Sustainable Development in Nigeria. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 3, 1-12. [11] Zweibel, K. (2010) Should Solar Photovoltaics Be Deployed Sooner Because of Long Operating Life at Low, Predictable Cost? Energy Policy, 38, 7519-7530.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2010.07.040 [12] Sharma, P. and Harinarayana, T. (2013) Solar Energy Generation Potential along National Highways. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 4, 16.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186%2F2251-6832-4-16 [13] Din?er, F. (2011) Overview of the Photovoltaic Technology Status and Perspective in Turkey. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, 3768-3779.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.06.005 [14] Bhutto, A.W., Bazmi, A.A. and Zahedi, G. (2012) Greener Energy: Issues and Challenges for Pakistan—Solar Energy Prospective. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, 2762-2780.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.043 [15] Renewable Energy Policy Network, Renewables Global Status Report.
http://www.ren21.net/Portals/0/documents/activities/gsr/RE_GSR_2006_Update.pdf [16] Electricity Sector in India.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_sector_in_India [17] PVSYST.
http://www.pvsyst.com/en/ [18] Surfer v11.
http://downloads.goldensoftware.com/guides/Surfer11TrainingGuide.pdf [19] Google Earth v7.1.2.2041.
http://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/index.html [20] Google Earth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Earth [21] Global Meteorological Database, Meteonorm Switzerland Version 6.1.0.23. [22] NASA, Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE). https://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/sse/ [23] Harinarayana, T. and Vasavi, K.S.V. (2014) Solar Energy Generation Using Agriculture Cultivated Lands. Smart Grid and Renewable Energy, 5, 31-42.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/sgre.2014.52004 [24] Maps of India.
http://www.mapsofindia.com/ [25] District Map of Gujarat, File.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_Gujarat_state_and_districts.png [26] District Map of Andhra Pradesh.
http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/andhrapradesh/andhrapradesh-district.htm [27] District Map of Telangana.
http://www.prokerala.com/maps/telangana-state-map.html [28] Solanki, C.S. (2011) Solar Photo-Voltaics: Fundamentals, Technologies and Applications. 2nd Edition. [29] SolarGIS.
http://solargis.info/doc/postermaps [30] Renewable Energy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy