15-11-2012, 02:02 PM
India’s Power Crisis & potential of Decentralized Solar PV DC Power
India’s Power Crisis & potential.pdf (Size: 763.02 KB / Downloads: 131)
As India’s Economy continues to grow
• India’s average GDP growth during 2006-09: 8.6%
• 7% world’s GDP with 17% population
• Increasing demand for energy from a low base
• But affordability is the key: solutions that sell in india have to be at Indian
prices
4/7/2012 Potential of decetralised Solar Power 2
• Generation capacity continues to increase
• Keeping pace with country’s rapid (8 to 9%) economic growth
Dominant Fuel Sources
• Coal: good for base-load
• significant domestic reserves
• proven reserves of 105 billion tonnes
• could last 200 years at current level of production
• Not good for environment
Natural gas share up from 4.4% to 10% in last 15 years
• • emit half as much CO2 per kWh as compared to coal-based plants
• Hydroelectric potential of 600 billion kWh per annum
• Capacity of 148.7 GW
• only 23% realised so far
• High initial costs and developmental risks
• Nuclear: small
Power Supply Shortage
• Cities and towns have huge power-cuts
• Meerut (50 Kms from Delhi) routinely has 12 hour power-cuts
in summer months
• Most of 600000 villages connected
• 17% villages unconnected
• Over 60% have power for 4 to 10 hours; Quite a few have
power for less than 4 hours a day
Sun shines brightly over India
• India can certainly use solar energy, as capital goods prices fall
• Solar photo-voltaic provides DC power for about six hours a day
• Rs 60 per W capital cost: with 10% interest and payback in 20 years, amounts to
Rs 7 per year (not computing costs of land)
• Costs a little over Rs 4.35 / kWh assuming 10% losses assuming no land cost
• Installation costs may add another 10% to costs
• As opposed to Rs 3 to 7 per kWh for grid power
Energy Storage
• Batteries are expensive proposition for back-up
• Lead acid battery: 1500 cycles if operated between 60 to 100% capacity
• 1 kWh back-up will cost Rs 14/ kWh assuming single charge / discharge per day
• Assuming Rs 6000 per kWh battery and 10% interest rate
• LiFePo battery: 5000 cycles if operated between 10% to 90% capacity
• 1 kWh back-up will cost Rs 16 per kWh assuming single charge per day