India to have 100GW of solar by 2022

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/columns/vidya-ram/india-likely-to-exceed-target-of-100-gw-of-solar-power-by-2022-solairedirect-chief/article6757490.ece

“There is considerable flexibility which is only matched by diesel generation. Solar can be deployed very quickly — building a dam takes 10 years — but developing a solar park, even on a large scale takes six months.”

...
India’s policy approach to solar power has been in contrast to markets such as Europe, where solar has been heavily subsidised, but where the industry took a sharp hit following a fall in Government support in the wake of the economic crisis.

India’s competitive auctions by contrast have sought to grow the market by putting downward pressure on prices — Solairedirect, for example raised eyebrows when it won a tender for a contract in Gujarat in December 2011 by bidding ₹7.49 a unit — against a reference point of ₹15 — a target the company met despite scepticism.

...
From a minor player five years ago, Asia now accounts for over half the installed capacity of 454 GW globally in 2014, according to figures from IHS Global Insight — a trend projected to continue into the future.

They're building solar canals...stops the water evaporating and they don't lose land.

Impetus

It is very possible given that the latest solar panels are about 50% efficient (as compared with 15% efficiency for legacy stuff). India and most of Asia has a brilliant climate for solar. Given a 50% efficiency level, even Munster could probably live off solar. It is down to the price per kWh achieved.

Indeed. Except for the moment they're installing cheapo low grade Chinese modules that Europe is rejecting.

Capt'n Midnight

Impetus wrote: »

It is very possible given that the latest solar panels are about 50% efficient (as compared with 15% efficiency for legacy stuff). India and most of Asia has a brilliant climate for solar. Given a 50% efficiency level, even Munster could probably live off solar. It is down to the price per kWh achieved.

50 % ? [citation needed]

Multi layer cells can get near this BUT they are so expensive they are only used as part of solar concentrator systems , with the towers and mirrors.


What matters most is watts per euro , except that the cost of land , control systems and grid connections are probably more than the panels



How could Munster live off solar ?
Without storage or use as part of an integrated system there's not much it can do at night.

Look up desertec to see just how little area would be needed to power the world with 10% efficient panels.

Then again we are above 45 degrees north so vertical panels would be more efficient than horizontal ones. So very little area would be needed.