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Role of Solar Energy in the Development of the Indian Economy

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Challenges and Opportunities of Distributed Renewable Power

Part of the book series: Energy, Environment, and Sustainability ((ENENSU))

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Abstract

Solar energy-based power generation systems play a pivotal role in bolstering the Indian economy and contributing to India's energy security and independence. With reduced dependence on fossil fuel imports, solar power plants mitigate the risks associated with price volatility and supply disruptions in the conventional energy sector. By displacing fossil fuel-based electricity generation, solar power plants play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. India has implemented various solar-based power plants as part of its renewable energy initiatives. These power plants utilize different technologies and configurations to harness solar energy for electricity generation. Thus, the chapter explores the multifaceted role of solar energy by incorporating different solar-based technologies in developing the Indian economy. The chapter also enlightens their impact on job creation for economic growth, energy access in rural development as well as industrial development and technology transfer. Furthermore, government initiatives, along with supportive policies which possess significant importance in promoting solar energy adoption, attracting investments and driving the growth of the solar industry in India were also thoroughly covered because of their potential to bring transition in the sustainable development of the country.

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Acknowledgements

This work is a part of the start-up project (Grant number: ASTEC/S&T/1802/1/2019-20/1574-1588) awarded to Dr. Pankaj Kalita, Associate Professor, School of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam, India. The financial support extended by IIT Guwahati is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Energy Science and Engineering, IIT, Guwahati, India

    Akash Dilip Kamble, Samar Das,  Vijaya, Puja Hazarika & Pankaj Kalita

  2. School of Agro and Rural Technology, IIT, Guwahati, India

    Biraj Das & Urbashi Bordoloi

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  1. Akash Dilip Kamble
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  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

    Sudipta De

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Avinash Kumar Agarwal

  3. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, North Guwahati, Assam, India

    Pankaj Kalita

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Kamble, A.D. et al. (2024). Role of Solar Energy in the Development of the Indian Economy. In: De, S., Agarwal, A.K., Kalita, P. (eds) Challenges and Opportunities of Distributed Renewable Power. Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-1406-3_18

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