US President Joe Biden on Friday said his government was going to shut down all coal plants across America. Reportedly, Biden gave the rather bold call in his speech at an event in California&nbsp;while addressing a gathering.&nbsp;President Biden said that coal plants are too expensive to operate, and hence "we're going to be shutting these plants down all across America" in order to shift to wind power.

"I was in Massachusetts about a month ago on the site of the largest old coal plant in America. Guess what? It cost them too much money. They can't count. No one is building new coal plants because they can’t rely on it. Even if they have all the coal guaranteed for the rest of the existence of the plant," said Biden.&nbsp;

The Democrat leader added that his government was going to focus on wind and solar energy which will be using the same infrastructure set up as the one used for the coal-fired electricity&nbsp;transmission.&nbsp;

"So it's going to become a wind generation. And all they're doing is it’s going to save them a hell of a lot of money and using the same transmission line that they transmitted the coal-fired electric on, we're going to be shutting these plants down all across America and having wind and solar power."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-midterm-elections-us-president-joe-biden-takes-defensive-stance-in-campaigns-closing-days-531076">WATCH |&nbsp;US Midterm elections: US President Joe Biden takes defensive stance in campaign's closing days</a>

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Biden further said that his government will provide all the necessary help to families to weather the change in technology.&nbsp;

"Also providing tax credits to help families buy energy efficient appliances, whether it's your refrigerator or your coffee maker, for solar panels on your home, weatherise your home, things that save an average, experts say, a minimum of $500 a year for the average family."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-says-his-wife-wants-him-to-run-for-president-again-527575">Read more:&nbsp;Joe Biden intends to run for president again, says wife Jill doesn’t want him to 'walk away'</a>

Notably, this is not the first time that Biden has come down on the coal industry. In the lead-up to the US Presidential race, Biden had said that coal miners should learn to code.&nbsp;

“Anybody who can go down 300 to 3,000 feet in a mine can sure as hell learn to program as well…Give me a break! Anybody who can throw coal into a furnace can learn how to program, for god’s sake!”

With the midterm elections just three days away, the Republicans may attempt to drum up Biden's statement. The Republican National Committee has already remarked that Biden is celebrating coal workers losing their jobs. The hits are only&nbsp;likely to increase in the coming days.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-us-midterms-biden-makes-another-gaffe-says-there-are-54-states-529576">Read more: Ahead of midterms, Biden makes another gaffe, says there are ‘54 states’ in the US</a>

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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US President Joe Biden on Friday said his government was going to shut down all coal plants across America. Reportedly, Biden gave the rather bold call in his speech at an event in California while addressing a gathering.

US President Joe Biden on Friday said his government was going to shut down all coal plants across America. Reportedly, Biden gave the rather bold call in his speech at an event in California while addressing a gathering. President Biden said that coal plants are too expensive to operate, and hence "we're going to be shutting these plants down all across America" in order to shift to wind power. "I was in Massachusetts about a month ago on the site of the largest old coal plant in America. Guess what? It cost them too much money. They can't count. No one is building new coal plants because they can’t rely on it. Even if they have all the coal guaranteed for the rest of the existence of the plant," said Biden. The Democrat leader added that his government was going to focus on wind and solar energy which will be using the same infrastructure set up as the one used for the coal-fired electricity transmission. "So it's going to become a wind generation. And all they're doing is it’s going to save them a hell of a lot of money and using the same transmission line that they transmitted the coal-fired electric on, we're going to be shutting these plants down all across America and having wind and solar power." WATCH | US Midterm elections: US President Joe Biden takes defensive stance in campaign's closing days × Biden further said that his government will provide all the necessary help to families to weather the change in technology. "Also providing tax credits to help families buy energy efficient appliances, whether it's your refrigerator or your coffee maker, for solar panels on your home, weatherise your home, things that save an average, experts say, a minimum of $500 a year for the average family." Read more: Joe Biden intends to run for president again, says wife Jill doesn’t want him to 'walk away' Notably, this is not the first time that Biden has come down on the coal industry. In the lead-up to the US Presidential race, Biden had said that coal miners should learn to code. “Anybody who can go down 300 to 3,000 feet in a mine can sure as hell learn to program as well…Give me a break! Anybody who can throw coal into a furnace can learn how to program, for god’s sake!” With the midterm elections just three days away, the Republicans may attempt to drum up Biden's statement. The Republican National Committee has already remarked that Biden is celebrating coal workers losing their jobs. The hits are only likely to increase in the coming days. Read more: Ahead of midterms, Biden makes another gaffe, says there are ‘54 states’ in the US (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'We're going to shut all coal plants in America, replace with wind and solar power,' says Biden

Earlier this month, the Government of India declared a village in the Western state of Gujarat as the first village to run entirely on solar energy all the time.

WION Climate Summit: India's first fully solar-powered village 'transforming' residents' lives

There's no doubt that solar power is one of the cleanest form of energy. It is renewable and unlike fossil fuels does not release green house gas. However, one thing that is generally overlooked is that the solar panels have a limited life span. So, what happens when this life span comes to an end?

WION Climate Tracker: Australian study proposes new cost-effective way to recycle solar panels

Europe might one day be powered by giant floating solar panels orbiting the planet. The European space agency has unveiled a plan to capture the sun's energy in space and beam it back down to earth.

WION Climate Tracker: European city’s aim to develop a solar farm in space

Palestinians living in the Israeli-blockaded enclave of Gaza have long endured an unstable and costly electricity supply, so they turned to a renewable energy source, solar power panels.

WION Climate Tracker: Tired of power cuts, Gaza residents turn to renewable energy sources

As per the Ministry of Renewable Energy, India achieved the fifth global position in solar-powered deployment by surpassing Italy. Solar Power capacity has increased by over 11 times in the last five years, from 2.6 GW in March 2014 to 30 GW in July 2019. India is blessed with vast solar potential. About 5000 trillion kWh per year of energy is incident over India’s land area. And most parts of the country receive 4-7 KWh per square meter per day. Till now India has done a remarkable job harnessing solar energy. From an energy security perspective, solar is the most promising source of energy than conventional energy. 

National Institute of the Solar Energy (NISE) has assessed the country’s solar potential of about 748 GW assuming 3 per cent&nbsp;of the wasteland to be covered with PV panels. Solar energy has taken a central place in India’s National Action Plan on climate change with the National Solar Mission (NSM) as one of the key missions. NSM is a major initiative of the government of India with active participation from the state to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security. In order to achieve the set target government of India, has launched various schemes to encourage the generation of solar power in the country, like solar parks scheme, VGF scheme, CPSO scheme, Defence scheme and many more.

&nbsp;Solar panel systems are divided into two systems: off-grid and on-grid. Off-grid solar power systems aimed to provide energy to areas where power is not available or unreliable. On-grid solar power system generates power using solar power system and is directly connected to the utility grid and works in collaboration with the power grid. On-grid is best suitable when power demand is high. 

Recently, MNRE has proposed a 25-year document which has proposed replacing coal-based power generation capacity by setting up the installed renewable energy generation to 85 per cent&nbsp;of the total requirement. The vision of the document is to freeze coal-based power generation capacity and gradually cease the plants as they age. This means renewable energy is the target to replace the coal in coming future.

But how environmentally friendly is solar energy? Is it true that putting so many panels is healthy for the environment?

Emission of CO2

To meet the net-zero carbon emission target by 2070, the government plan to create an additional solar manufacturing capacity of 25 GW each of solar cells and modules and 10 GW of wafers. India currently has a manufacturing capacity of 3 GW of solar cells and 15 GW for modules. The plan is to escalate the manufacturing process following an additional allocation of Rs 19,500 crores for the production-linked-incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar modules in the FY23 Union Budget. PM of India claims the budget will not only ensure green growth but will also generate green jobs. India’s largest solar PV module manufacturing company is Waare Engineers. They have the largest solar PV module manufacturing capacity of 2 GWs in Surat and Umbergaon in Gujarat. From there they transport solar panels to the rest part of the country. Apart from this, India imports more solar from China (87.67%), Malaysia (94.65 per cent), Taiwan (1.70 per cent), and Singapore (1.03 per cent) as per data from 2017.

A study was conducted where LCA in Australia for complete PV solar system that was manufactured in Germany and was shipped to Australia, where they were installed in each capital city of Australia. Raw materials are needed to be mined, transported and processed and then assembled. According to the study the production of a 1KWh PV solar system production release over two tonnes of greenhouse gases. Almost 85 per cent&nbsp;of which is manufactured by the solar module themselves. The rest of the greenhouse emissions are because of invertor production (7 per cent) and roof frame and wiring contribute around 4 per cent&nbsp;of the total greenhouse gas production. Transport of the PV solar system is very efficient, producing only 4 per cent&nbsp;of the greenhouse gas associated with the system. Transport of the solar system from Germany to Australia by ship is only responsible for 2 per cent&nbsp;of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Although several studies have been done in LCA including in India. But the study which was done in Australia is unique because it has analysed the detail of mining, transportation, inverter and wiring. 

Toxic Chemicals

Solar-powered generation of electricity does not involve any noise, or toxic greenhouse gas emissions. But PV industry is associated with the use of harmful chemicals. The manufacturing process is responsible for many hazardous byproducts, like sulphuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acids. However, the amount of chemical use depends on the type of cell manufactured.&nbsp; These hazardous chemicals are used for cleaning wafers and removing impurities.

Silicon tetrachloride is produced during the refining of silicons. It can be recycled or reused, although whether or not produced products do so is unknown. Otherwise, there's a good probability that these chemicals will wind up in groundwater.

The area that needs an assessment is finding an alternative solution to these harmful chemicals.

Waste and Groundwater Contamination

PV panel waste will increase alongside worldwide deployment. As per the IRENA report, India could have an expected average of 50,000-320,000 tonnes of waste by 2030, possibly culminating in 4.4-7.5 million tonnes by 2050. PV panel waste generated is covered by general waste regulations. India has no regulation mandates, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the 2016 Solid Waste Management rules manages waste. The legislation covers requirements for the general e-waste and restrictions on the hazardous substance in the electronic e-waste rule of 2016. However, it does not include PV waste. The lack of recycling guidelines and infrastructure puts India in a poor position to handle solar PV waste, and the cost of recycling is also very high. Recycling needs to be profitable.

As per Ayush et al. India will produce around 2.95 billion tonnes of waste by 2047, this waste will comprise 51 per cent of glass for covering, 31 per cent&nbsp;aluminum for module frames, 5 per cent&nbsp;EVA for panel lamination, 6 per cent copper for cable, and 1 per cent&nbsp;silicon for PV module cell.

India lacks infrastructure, technology, and regulations to dispose of PV waste. There are high chances hazardous chemicals mentioned earlier might leach into the water and can have serious effects on the environment and human health. If the panels are cracked and dumped into landfills without proper recycling and monitoring, then leaching can take place and these chemicals can make their way to groundwater. India is under-prepared to manage the increasing e-waste.

Solar panels are not entirely green, it has own challenges. It’s high time to address all the challenges and come up with some solutions that are actionable, economical, and sustainable. 

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

You can&nbsp;now write for wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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As per the Ministry of Renewable Energy, India achieved the fifth global position in solar-powered deployment by surpassing Italy. Solar Power capacity has increased by over 11 times in the last five years, from 2.

As per the Ministry of Renewable Energy, India achieved the fifth global position in solar-powered deployment by surpassing Italy. Solar Power capacity has increased by over 11 times in the last five years, from 2.6 GW in March 2014 to 30 GW in July 2019. India is blessed with vast solar potential. About 5000 trillion kWh per year of energy is incident over India’s land area. And most parts of the country receive 4-7 KWh per square meter per day. Till now India has done a remarkable job harnessing solar energy. From an energy security perspective, solar is the most promising source of energy than conventional energy. National Institute of the Solar Energy (NISE) has assessed the country’s solar potential of about 748 GW assuming 3 per cent of the wasteland to be covered with PV panels. Solar energy has taken a central place in India’s National Action Plan on climate change with the National Solar Mission (NSM) as one of the key missions. NSM is a major initiative of the government of India with active participation from the state to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security. In order to achieve the set target government of India, has launched various schemes to encourage the generation of solar power in the country, like solar parks scheme, VGF scheme, CPSO scheme, Defence scheme and many more. Solar panel systems are divided into two systems: off-grid and on-grid. Off-grid solar power systems aimed to provide energy to areas where power is not available or unreliable. On-grid solar power system generates power using solar power system and is directly connected to the utility grid and works in collaboration with the power grid. On-grid is best suitable when power demand is high. Recently, MNRE has proposed a 25-year document which has proposed replacing coal-based power generation capacity by setting up the installed renewable energy generation to 85 per cent of the total requirement. The vision of the document is to freeze coal-based power generation capacity and gradually cease the plants as they age. This means renewable energy is the target to replace the coal in coming future. But how environmentally friendly is solar energy? Is it true that putting so many panels is healthy for the environment? Emission of CO2 To meet the net-zero carbon emission target by 2070, the government plan to create an additional solar manufacturing capacity of 25 GW each of solar cells and modules and 10 GW of wafers. India currently has a manufacturing capacity of 3 GW of solar cells and 15 GW for modules. The plan is to escalate the manufacturing process following an additional allocation of Rs 19,500 crores for the production-linked-incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar modules in the FY23 Union Budget. PM of India claims the budget will not only ensure green growth but will also generate green jobs. India’s largest solar PV module manufacturing company is Waare Engineers. They have the largest solar PV module manufacturing capacity of 2 GWs in Surat and Umbergaon in Gujarat. From there they transport solar panels to the rest part of the country. Apart from this, India imports more solar from China (87.67%), Malaysia (94.65 per cent), Taiwan (1.70 per cent), and Singapore (1.03 per cent) as per data from 2017. A study was conducted where LCA in Australia for complete PV solar system that was manufactured in Germany and was shipped to Australia, where they were installed in each capital city of Australia. Raw materials are needed to be mined, transported and processed and then assembled. According to the study the production of a 1KWh PV solar system production release over two tonnes of greenhouse gases. Almost 85 per cent of which is manufactured by the solar module themselves. The rest of the greenhouse emissions are because of invertor production (7 per cent) and roof frame and wiring contribute around 4 per cent of the total greenhouse gas production. Transport of the PV solar system is very efficient, producing only 4 per cent of the greenhouse gas associated with the system. Transport of the solar system from Germany to Australia by ship is only responsible for 2 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Although several studies have been done in LCA including in India. But the study which was done in Australia is unique because it has analysed the detail of mining, transportation, inverter and wiring. Toxic Chemicals Solar-powered generation of electricity does not involve any noise, or toxic greenhouse gas emissions. But PV industry is associated with the use of harmful chemicals. The manufacturing process is responsible for many hazardous byproducts, like sulphuric acid, hydrogen fluoride, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acids. However, the amount of chemical use depends on the type of cell manufactured. These hazardous chemicals are used for cleaning wafers and removing impurities. Silicon tetrachloride is produced during the refining of silicons. It can be recycled or reused, although whether or not produced products do so is unknown. Otherwise, there's a good probability that these chemicals will wind up in groundwater. The area that needs an assessment is finding an alternative solution to these harmful chemicals. Waste and Groundwater Contamination PV panel waste will increase alongside worldwide deployment. As per the IRENA report, India could have an expected average of 50,000-320,000 tonnes of waste by 2030, possibly culminating in 4.4-7.5 million tonnes by 2050. PV panel waste generated is covered by general waste regulations. India has no regulation mandates, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the 2016 Solid Waste Management rules manages waste. The legislation covers requirements for the general e-waste and restrictions on the hazardous substance in the electronic e-waste rule of 2016. However, it does not include PV waste. The lack of recycling guidelines and infrastructure puts India in a poor position to handle solar PV waste, and the cost of recycling is also very high. Recycling needs to be profitable. As per Ayush et al. India will produce around 2.95 billion tonnes of waste by 2047, this waste will comprise 51 per cent of glass for covering, 31 per cent aluminum for module frames, 5 per cent EVA for panel lamination, 6 per cent copper for cable, and 1 per cent silicon for PV module cell. India lacks infrastructure, technology, and regulations to dispose of PV waste. There are high chances hazardous chemicals mentioned earlier might leach into the water and can have serious effects on the environment and human health. If the panels are cracked and dumped into landfills without proper recycling and monitoring, then leaching can take place and these chemicals can make their way to groundwater. India is under-prepared to manage the increasing e-waste. Solar panels are not entirely green, it has own challenges. It’s high time to address all the challenges and come up with some solutions that are actionable, economical, and sustainable. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Is solar really green?

Solar power is slowly becoming a major source of clean energy around the world and with more and more countries trying to move away from fossil fuels, it has become a major field of study for scientists in search for better alternative sources. However, as the name suggests, the energy is dependent almost completely on the availability of sunlight in any region. However, a new technology can change that as it will make the production of solar power possible even at night.

A group of researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia was able to generate power using the technology which can be seen in night-vision goggles.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-lives-matter-paid-4-million-to-people-close-to-co-founder-patrisse-cullors-report-480700">BLM paid $4 million to people close to co-founder Patrisse Cullors - Report</a>

The process, described as “heat radiated as infrared light by a semiconductor device called a thermoradiative diode”, produced a small amount of energy but the researchers believe it can be modified to create more in the future by using existing photovoltaics technology.

"Photovoltaics, the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity, is an artificial process that humans have developed in order to convert the solar energy into power," says Phoebe Pearce.

"In that sense, the thermoradiative process is similar; we are diverting energy flowing in the infrared from a warm Earth into the cold Universe," the physicist from the University added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasa-has-identified-something-weird-happening-to-the-universe-480678" hreflang="en">NASA has identified 'something weird' happening to the universe</a>

“We have made an unambiguous demonstration of electrical power from a thermoradiative diode."

While solar energy currently is produced by harnessing the sunlight, the new technology will use the energy that the earth absorbs during the day and radiates back into space during night.

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You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Solar power is slowly becoming a major source of clean energy around the world and with more and more countries trying to move away from fossil fuels, it has become a major field of study for scientists in search for better alternative sources.

Solar power is slowly becoming a major source of clean energy around the world and with more and more countries trying to move away from fossil fuels, it has become a major field of study for scientists in search for better alternative sources. However, as the name suggests, the energy is dependent almost completely on the availability of sunlight in any region. However, a new technology can change that as it will make the production of solar power possible even at night. A group of researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia was able to generate power using the technology which can be seen in night-vision goggles. Also read | BLM paid $4 million to people close to co-founder Patrisse Cullors - Report The process, described as “heat radiated as infrared light by a semiconductor device called a thermoradiative diode”, produced a small amount of energy but the researchers believe it can be modified to create more in the future by using existing photovoltaics technology. "Photovoltaics, the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity, is an artificial process that humans have developed in order to convert the solar energy into power," says Phoebe Pearce. "In that sense, the thermoradiative process is similar; we are diverting energy flowing in the infrared from a warm Earth into the cold Universe," the physicist from the University added. Also read | NASA has identified 'something weird' happening to the universe “We have made an unambiguous demonstration of electrical power from a thermoradiative diode." While solar energy currently is produced by harnessing the sunlight, the new technology will use the energy that the earth absorbs during the day and radiates back into space during night. WATCH WION LIVE HERE - You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

New technology can generate solar energy even at night by 'catching' earth’s heat

The race for solar-powered vehicles are gearing up. Are Solar Vehicles the future of transportation? Watch this report to know more.

The race for solar vehicles: Are Solar Vehicles the future of transportation?

According to a new analysis, wind and solar generated a 10% of global electricity for the first time in 2021. This could pave a way for a less warm and a green world.

Wind & Solar: Future of global electricity

China wants the upcoming Beijing Olympics to be one-of-a-kind event for many reasons. It aims to run the games on clean energy and for this it has been building large solar parks. But behind the scene is the dark reality of land grabbing and forced evictions.

Human cost of China's green energy rush ahead of Beijing Winter Olympics

India's solar energy output growth slowed in September, a Reuters analysis of government data showed, at a time when coal-fired utilities are facing a shortage of a fuel that accounts for more than 70 per cent&nbsp;of the country's power generation.

Growth in solar energy is critical this year as half of India's 135 coal-fired power plants have fuel stocks of less than three days. India expects the coal shortage to last for up to six months.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/despite-the-green-energy-push-oil-will-be-worlds-no-1-energy-source-opec-416913">Despite the green energy push, Oil will be world's No 1 energy source: OPEC</a>

State-run Coal India, which accounts for over 80&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;of India`s coal output, saw production grow at the slowest rate in six months and supplies at the slowest rate in seven months during September as rain affected output in key mining regions.

Solar energy generation growth slowed to 24.7&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;year-on-year in September from 41 per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;in August, an analysis of federal grid regulator POSOCO's daily load despatch data showed.

Other key sources of electricity generation also fell in September, the data showed, with hydro declining 5 per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;and gas-fired power falling 31.6&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;compared with the previous year.

A seasonal change in India's power consumption patterns could also increase stress on coal-fired utilities saddled with an acute shortage, and lead to power outages, analysts say.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-orders-energy-firms-to-secure-supplies-amid-power-crisis-report-417263">China orders energy firms to secure supplies amid power crisis: report</a>

"Renewable energy will not be available early in the day and immediately after sunset, when power demand generally peaks during winter in India," a Singapore-based power sector analyst said.

Victor Vanya, director at power analytics firm EMA Solutions, said higher humidity in the coming weeks could lead to a surge in power demand driven by higher air-conditioning requirements, and a rapid deterioration in coal stocks.

"If humidity remains high in the next 2 weeks, there is a highly probability for India to end up in a 'China-like scenario'," he told Reuters. Coal supply shortages in China have led to power restrictions in parts of the country.

However, CRISIL, a unit of ratings agency S&amp;P, forecast 15 per cent&nbsp;-16&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;growth in solar output during the six months ending March 2022 and a slowdown in overall power demand growth would ease constraints on India`s coal-fired power plants.

"This will further be supported by 5 per cent&nbsp;- 6&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;and 3 per cent&nbsp;-4&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;&nbsp;growth in generation from nuclear and hydro sources," CRISIL told Reuters, adding that widespread outages were unlikely.

India's solar energy output growth slowed in September, a Reuters analysis of government data showed, at a time when coal-fired utilities are facing a shortage of a fuel that accounts for more than 70 per cent of the country's power generation.

India's solar energy output growth slowed in September, a Reuters analysis of government data showed, at a time when coal-fired utilities are facing a shortage of a fuel that accounts for more than 70 per cent of the country's power generation. Growth in solar energy is critical this year as half of India's 135 coal-fired power plants have fuel stocks of less than three days. India expects the coal shortage to last for up to six months. Also Read | Despite the green energy push, Oil will be world's No 1 energy source: OPEC State-run Coal India, which accounts for over 80 per cent of India`s coal output, saw production grow at the slowest rate in six months and supplies at the slowest rate in seven months during September as rain affected output in key mining regions. Solar energy generation growth slowed to 24.7 per cent year-on-year in September from 41 per cent in August, an analysis of federal grid regulator POSOCO's daily load despatch data showed. Other key sources of electricity generation also fell in September, the data showed, with hydro declining 5 per cent and gas-fired power falling 31.6 per cent compared with the previous year. A seasonal change in India's power consumption patterns could also increase stress on coal-fired utilities saddled with an acute shortage, and lead to power outages, analysts say. Also Read | China orders energy firms to secure supplies amid power crisis: report "Renewable energy will not be available early in the day and immediately after sunset, when power demand generally peaks during winter in India," a Singapore-based power sector analyst said. Victor Vanya, director at power analytics firm EMA Solutions, said higher humidity in the coming weeks could lead to a surge in power demand driven by higher air-conditioning requirements, and a rapid deterioration in coal stocks. "If humidity remains high in the next 2 weeks, there is a highly probability for India to end up in a 'China-like scenario'," he told Reuters. Coal supply shortages in China have led to power restrictions in parts of the country. However, CRISIL, a unit of ratings agency S&P, forecast 15 per cent -16 per cent growth in solar output during the six months ending March 2022 and a slowdown in overall power demand growth would ease constraints on India`s coal-fired power plants. "This will further be supported by 5 per cent - 6 per cent and 3 per cent -4 per cent growth in generation from nuclear and hydro sources," CRISIL told Reuters, adding that widespread outages were unlikely.

India's solar energy output growth slows in September

The Biden administration on Wednesday released a plan to produce almost half of the nation’s electricity from the sun by 2050 as part of its effort to combat climate change.

Solar energy provided less than four&nbsp;per cent of the country’s electricity last year and the administration’s target of 45&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;would represent a huge leap and will most likely take a fundamental reshaping of the energy industry. In a new report, the Energy Department said the country needed to double the amount of solar energy installed every year over the next four years compared with last year. And then it will need to double annual installations again by 2030.

Adding that many solar panels, on rooftops and on open ground, will not be easy. In February, a division of the Energy Department projected that the share of electricity produced by all renewable sources, including solar, wind and hydroelectric dams, would reach 42&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;by 2050 based on current trends and policies.

The new department blueprint is in line with what most climate scientists say is needed. Those experts say that reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases to zero by 2050 is essential to limiting the worst effects of global warming — and much greater use of renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines will be needed to achieve that goal.

But administration officials have provided only a broad outline for how they hope to get there. Many of the details will ultimately be decided by lawmakers in Congress, which is working on a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a much larger Democratic measure that could authorise $3.5 trillion in federal spending.

One thing going for the administration is that the cost of solar panels has fallen substantially over the last decade, making them the cheapest source of energy in many parts of the country. The use of solar and wind energy has also grown much faster in recent years than most government and independent analysts had predicted.

“One of the things we’re hoping that people see and take from this report is that it is affordable to decarbonise the grid,” said Becca Jones-Albertus, director of the Solar Energy Technology Office in the Energy Department. “The grid will remain reliable. We just need to build.”

The administration is making the case that the United States needs to act quickly because not doing anything to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels also has significant costs, particularly from extreme weather linked to climate change. In a Tuesday visit to inspect damage from the intense rainfall caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in New Jersey and New York, President Joe Biden said, “The nation and the world are in peril.”

Some recent natural disasters have been compounded by weaknesses in the energy system. Ida, for example, dealt a huge blow to the electric grid in Louisiana, where hundreds of thousands of people have been without power for days. Last winter, a storm left much of Texas without electricity for days, too. And in California, utility equipment has ignited several large wildfires, killing scores of people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses.

Even so, many analysts and even some in the solar industry are skeptical that the administration can achieve its green targets. In addition to the 45&nbsp;per cent solar target, Biden has said he wants to bring net planet-warming emissions from the power sector to zero by 2035. He also wants to add hundreds of offshore wind turbines to the seven currently in the waters off the nation’s coasts and have as many as half of all new cars sold be electric by 2030.

While renewable energy has grown fast, it contributes about 20 per cent of the country’s electricity. Natural gas and coal contribute about 60per cent.

“That kind of quick acceleration of deployment is only going to happen through smart policy decisions,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association. “That’s the part where having a goal is important, but having clear steps on how to get there is the issue.”

Challenges like trade disputes could also complicate Biden’s push for more solar power. China dominates the global supply chain for solar panels, and the administration recently began blocking imports connected with China’s Xinjiang region over concerns about the use of forced labor. While many solar companies say they are working to shift away from materials made in Xinjiang, energy experts say the import ban could slow the construction of solar projects throughout the country in the short term.

Biden wants to use tax credits to encourage the use of solar power systems and batteries at homes, businesses and utilities. The administration also wants local governments to make it quicker to obtain permits and build new solar projects — in some places it can take months to put panels on a single-family house, for example. And officials want to offer various incentives to utility companies to encourage the use of solar.

Jennifer Granholm, Biden’s energy secretary, said part of the administration’s strategy would focus on its Clean Electricity Payment Program, which would reward utilities for adding more renewable energy to the electric grid, including rooftop solar. Many utility companies have fought against rooftop solar panels because they see a threat to their business and would rather build large solar farms that they own and control.

“Both have to happen, and the utilities will be incentivised to take down the barriers,” Granholm said. “We’ve got to do a series of things.”

The Biden administration on Wednesday released a plan to produce almost half of the nation’s electricity from the sun by 2050 as part of its effort to combat climate change.

The Biden administration on Wednesday released a plan to produce almost half of the nation’s electricity from the sun by 2050 as part of its effort to combat climate change. Solar energy provided less than four per cent of the country’s electricity last year and the administration’s target of 45 per cent would represent a huge leap and will most likely take a fundamental reshaping of the energy industry. In a new report, the Energy Department said the country needed to double the amount of solar energy installed every year over the next four years compared with last year. And then it will need to double annual installations again by 2030. Adding that many solar panels, on rooftops and on open ground, will not be easy. In February, a division of the Energy Department projected that the share of electricity produced by all renewable sources, including solar, wind and hydroelectric dams, would reach 42 per cent by 2050 based on current trends and policies. The new department blueprint is in line with what most climate scientists say is needed. Those experts say that reducing net emissions of greenhouse gases to zero by 2050 is essential to limiting the worst effects of global warming — and much greater use of renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines will be needed to achieve that goal. But administration officials have provided only a broad outline for how they hope to get there. Many of the details will ultimately be decided by lawmakers in Congress, which is working on a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a much larger Democratic measure that could authorise $3.5 trillion in federal spending. One thing going for the administration is that the cost of solar panels has fallen substantially over the last decade, making them the cheapest source of energy in many parts of the country. The use of solar and wind energy has also grown much faster in recent years than most government and independent analysts had predicted. “One of the things we’re hoping that people see and take from this report is that it is affordable to decarbonise the grid,” said Becca Jones-Albertus, director of the Solar Energy Technology Office in the Energy Department. “The grid will remain reliable. We just need to build.” The administration is making the case that the United States needs to act quickly because not doing anything to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels also has significant costs, particularly from extreme weather linked to climate change. In a Tuesday visit to inspect damage from the intense rainfall caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida in New Jersey and New York, President Joe Biden said, “The nation and the world are in peril.” Some recent natural disasters have been compounded by weaknesses in the energy system. Ida, for example, dealt a huge blow to the electric grid in Louisiana, where hundreds of thousands of people have been without power for days. Last winter, a storm left much of Texas without electricity for days, too. And in California, utility equipment has ignited several large wildfires, killing scores of people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses. Even so, many analysts and even some in the solar industry are skeptical that the administration can achieve its green targets. In addition to the 45 per cent solar target, Biden has said he wants to bring net planet-warming emissions from the power sector to zero by 2035. He also wants to add hundreds of offshore wind turbines to the seven currently in the waters off the nation’s coasts and have as many as half of all new cars sold be electric by 2030. While renewable energy has grown fast, it contributes about 20 per cent of the country’s electricity. Natural gas and coal contribute about 60per cent. “That kind of quick acceleration of deployment is only going to happen through smart policy decisions,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association. “That’s the part where having a goal is important, but having clear steps on how to get there is the issue.” Challenges like trade disputes could also complicate Biden’s push for more solar power. China dominates the global supply chain for solar panels, and the administration recently began blocking imports connected with China’s Xinjiang region over concerns about the use of forced labor. While many solar companies say they are working to shift away from materials made in Xinjiang, energy experts say the import ban could slow the construction of solar projects throughout the country in the short term. Biden wants to use tax credits to encourage the use of solar power systems and batteries at homes, businesses and utilities. The administration also wants local governments to make it quicker to obtain permits and build new solar projects — in some places it can take months to put panels on a single-family house, for example. And officials want to offer various incentives to utility companies to encourage the use of solar. Jennifer Granholm, Biden’s energy secretary, said part of the administration’s strategy would focus on its Clean Electricity Payment Program, which would reward utilities for adding more renewable energy to the electric grid, including rooftop solar. Many utility companies have fought against rooftop solar panels because they see a threat to their business and would rather build large solar farms that they own and control. “Both have to happen, and the utilities will be incentivised to take down the barriers,” Granholm said. “We’ve got to do a series of things.”

From 4% to 45%: Biden sets an ambitious blueprint for solar energy

To hear Democrats tell it, a green job is supposed to be a good job — and not just good for the planet.

The Green New Deal, first introduced in 2019, sought to “create millions of good, high-wage jobs.” And in March, when President Joe Biden unveiled his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, he emphasized the “good-paying” union jobs it would produce while reining in climate change.

“My American Jobs Plan will put hundreds of thousands of people to work,” Biden said, “paying the same exact rate that a union man or woman would get.”

But on its current trajectory, the green economy is shaping up to look less like the industrial workplace that lifted workers into the middle class in the 20th century than something more akin to an Amazon warehouse or a fleet of Uber drivers: grueling work schedules, few unions, middling wages and limited benefits.

Kellogg Dipzinski has seen this up close, at Assembly Solar, a nearly 2,000-acre solar farm under construction near Flint, Michigan.

“Hey I see your ads for help,” Dipzinski, an organizer with the local electrical workers union, texted the site’s project manager in May. “We have manpower. I’ll be out that way Friday.”

“Hahahahaha …. yes — help needed on unskilled low wage workers,” was the response. “Competing with our federal government for unemployment is tough.”

For workers used to the pay standards of traditional energy industries, such declarations may be jarring. Building an electricity plant powered by fossil fuels usually requires hundreds of electricians, pipe fitters, millwrights and boilermakers who typically earn more than $100,000 a year in wages and benefits when they are unionised.

But on solar farms, workers are often nonunion construction laborers who earn an hourly wage in the upper teens with modest benefits — even as the projects are backed by some of the largest investment firms in the world. In the case of Assembly Solar, the backer is D.E. Shaw, with more than $50 billion in assets under management, whose renewable energy arm owns and will operate the plant.

While Biden has proposed higher wage floors for such work, the Senate prospects for this approach are murky. And absent such protections — or even with them — there’s a nagging concern among worker advocates that the shift to green jobs may reinforce inequality rather than alleviate it.

“The clean tech industry is incredibly anti-union,” said Jim Harrison, the director of renewable energy for the Utility Workers Union of America. “It’s a lot of transient work, work that is marginal, precarious and very difficult to be able to organize.”

The Lessons of 2009

Since 2000, the United States has lost about 2 million private-sector union jobs, which pay above-average wages. To help revive such “high-quality middle-class” employment, as Biden refers to it, he has proposed federal subsidies to plug abandoned oil and gas wells, build electric vehicles and charging stations and speed the transition to renewable energy.

Industry studies, including one cited by the White House, suggest that vastly increasing the number of wind and solar farms could produce over half a million jobs a year over the next decade — primarily in construction and manufacturing.

David Popp, an economist at Syracuse University, said those job estimates were roughly in line with his study of the green jobs created by the Recovery Act of 2009, but with two caveats: First, the green jobs created then coincided with a loss of jobs elsewhere, including high-paying, unionized industrial jobs. And the green jobs did not appear to raise the wages of workers who filled them.

The effect of Biden’s plan, which would go further in displacing well-paid workers in fossil-fuel-related industries, could be similarly disappointing.

In the energy industry, it takes far more people to operate a coal-powered electricity plant than it takes to operate a wind farm. Many solar farms often make do without a single worker on site.

In 2023, a coal- and gas-powered plant called D.E. Karn, about an hour away from the Assembly Solar site in Michigan, is scheduled to shut down. The plant’s 130 maintenance and operations workers, who are represented by the Utility Workers Union of America and whose wages begin around $40 an hour plus benefits, are guaranteed jobs at the same wage within 60 miles. But the union, which has lost nearly 15% of the 50,000 members nationally that it had five years ago, says many will have to take less appealing jobs. The utility, Consumers Energy, concedes that it doesn’t have nearly enough renewable energy jobs to absorb all the workers.

“A handful will retire,” said Joe Duvall, the local union president. “The younger ones I think have been searching for what they’d like to do outside of Karn.”

While some of the new green construction jobs, such as building new power lines, may pay well, many will pay less than traditional energy industry construction jobs. The construction of a new fossil fuel plant in Michigan employs hundreds of skilled tradespeople who typically make at least $60 an hour in wages and benefits, said Mike Barnwell, the head of the carpenters union in the state.

By contrast, about two-thirds of the roughly 250 workers employed on a typical utility-scale solar project are lower-skilled, according to Anthony Prisco, the head of the renewable energy practice for the staffing firm Aerotek. Prisco said his company pays “around $20” per hour for these positions, depending on the market, and that they are generally nonunion.

Biden has proposed that clean energy projects, which are subsidized by federal tax credits, pay construction workers so-called prevailing wages — a level set by the government in each locality. A few states, most prominently New York, have enacted similar mandates.

But it’s not clear that the Senate Democrats will be able to enact a prevailing wage mandate over Republican opposition. And the experience of the Recovery Act, which also required prevailing wages, suggests that such requirements are less effective at raising wages than union representation. Union officials also say that much of the difference in compensation arises from benefits rather than pay.

A Different Kind of Owner

&nbsp;

Union officials concede that some tasks, like lifting solar panels onto racks, don’t necessarily require a skilled trades worker. But they say that even these tasks should be directly supervised by tradespeople, and that many others must be performed by tradespeople to ensure safety and quality. “If you hire people off the street at $15 per hour, they’re not skilled and they get injuries,” Barnwell said. “We would never let a bunch of assemblers work together alone.”

One potentially dangerous job is wiring the hundreds or thousands of connections on a typical project — from solar panels to boxes that combine their energy to the inverters and transformers that make the electricity compatible with the rest of the grid.

Barnwell’s union has developed a contract that would employ far more skilled workers than the industry norm so that two-thirds of the workers on a project are tradespeople or apprentices. To be more competitive with nonunion employers, the contract offers tradespeople only $18 an hour in benefits, roughly half the usual amount, and a wage of slightly under $30 an hour. Apprentices earn 60-95% of that wage plus benefits, depending on experience.

So far, there have been relatively few takers. A key reason is that while utilities have traditionally built their own coal- and gas-powered plants, they tend to obtain wind and solar energy from other companies through so-called power purchase agreements. That electricity is then sent to customers through the grid just like electricity from any other source.

When utilities build their own plants, they have little incentive to drive down labor costs because their rate of return is set by regulators — around 10% of their initial investment a year, according to securities filings.

But when a solar farm is built and owned by another company — typically a green energy upstart, a traditional energy giant or an investment firm like D.E. Shaw, the owner of Assembly Solar in Michigan — that company has every incentive to hold down costs.

A lower price helps secure the purchase agreement in the first place. And because the revenue is largely determined by the purchase agreement, a company like D.E. Shaw must keep costs low to have a chance of earning the kind of double-digit returns that a regulated utility earns. Every dollar D.E. Shaw saves on labor is a dollar more for its investors.

“For third parties selling power to utilities, they are competing to get the contract,” said Leah Stokes, a political science professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who studies utilities. “And the difference between what they’re paid and what their costs are is profit.”

Union Labor, ‘Where Possible’

In mid-2019, the electrical workers union in Flint elected a trim and tightly coiled man named Greg Remington as its business manager and de facto leader. Around the same time, Remington ran into an official with Ranger Power, the company developing the project for D.E. Shaw, at a local planning commission meeting.

“He was all smiles — ‘Oh, yeah, we look forward to meeting,’” Remington said of the official. “But he never returned another phone call. I sent emails and he never got back to me.”

Development is the stage of a solar project in which a company buys or leases land, secures permits and negotiates a power purchase agreement with a utility. After that, the developer may cede control of the project to a company that will build, own and operate it.

But the two companies often work in tandem, as in the case of D.E. Shaw and Ranger Power, which are joint-venture partners “on certain Midwest projects and assets,” according to a Ranger spokeswoman. D.E. Shaw helps fund Ranger Power’s projects, and its involvement provides the resources and credibility to get projects off the ground.

In a 2018 letter to a local building trades council in southern Illinois, known as the Egyptian Building Trades, a Ranger Power official wrote that a solar project the company was developing in the area was “committed to using the appropriate affiliates of the Egyptian Building Trades, where possible, to provide skilled craftsmen and women to perform the construction of the project.” The letter said any entity that acquired the project would be required to honor the commitment.

But the project mostly hired nonunion workers to install solar panels. According to a complaint filed by a local union last fall with the Illinois Commerce Commission, the construction contractor has used workers who are not qualified and not supervised by a qualified person “to perform electrical wiring and connections” and paid them less than the union rate.

Prairie State Solar, an entity owned by D.E. Shaw that was created to oversee the project, has denied the claims. Prairie State has hired union tradespeople for a portion of the work.

Ranger officials likewise played up the construction jobs that the Assembly Solar project would bring to Michigan. But by the time Remington got involved, the county had approved the project and he had little leverage to ensure that they were union jobs. “A lot of this stuff, you’ve got to strike while the iron is hot,” he said.

County officials say that the project is bringing large benefits — including payments to landowners and tax revenue — and that they have no say over organized labor’s involvement. “I don’t think it’s our responsibility in any way to intervene on behalf of or against a union,” said Greg Brodeur, a county commissioner.

‘Like a Moving Assembly Line’

On an afternoon in mid-May, several laborers coming off their shift at Assembly Solar said they were grateful for the work, which they said paid $16 an hour and provided health insurance and 401(k) contributions. Two said they had moved to the area from Memphis and two from Mississippi, where they had made $9 to $15 an hour — one as a cook, two in construction and one as a mechanic.

One of the men, who identified himself as Travis Shaw, said he typically worked from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. six days a week, including overtime. Another worker, Quendarious Foster, who had been on the job for two weeks, said the workers motivated themselves by trying to beat their daily record, which stood at 30 “trackers,” each holding several dozen panels.

“Solar is like a moving assembly line,” said Prisco, the staffing agency leader. “Instead of the product moving down the line, the people move. It replicates itself over and over again across 1,000, 2,000 acres.”

Prisco and other experts said meeting a tight deadline was often critical. In some cases, project owners must pay a penalty to the electricity buyer if there are delays.

Elsewhere on the site, Remington pointed out a worker whom he had seen splicing together cables, but she declined to comment when approached by a reporter. Remington, who visits frequently and has the moxie of a man who, by his own accounting, has been chased around “by some of the finest sheriffs” in Michigan during hunting season, said he had asked the worker the day before if she was a licensed journeyman or if a journeyman was directly supervising her work, as state regulations require. The worker indicated that neither was the case.

A spokeswoman for McCarthy Building Cos., the construction contractor for D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, said that all electrical apprentices were supervised by licensed journeymen at the state-mandated ratio of 3-1 or better and that all splices involved a licensed electrician.

During a brief encounter on site with a reporter, Brian Timmer, the project manager who had exchanged a text with a union organizer, said, “That’s the reason I can’t talk to you” when he was asked about union labor. “It gets a lot of people upset.” (Remington said he was later told by McCarthy that it might use union electricians for a limited assignment — repairing some defective components.)

To hear Democrats tell it, a green job is supposed to be a good job — and not just good for the planet. The Green New Deal, first introduced in 2019, sought to “create millions of good, high-wage jobs.

To hear Democrats tell it, a green job is supposed to be a good job — and not just good for the planet. The Green New Deal, first introduced in 2019, sought to “create millions of good, high-wage jobs.” And in March, when President Joe Biden unveiled his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, he emphasized the “good-paying” union jobs it would produce while reining in climate change. “My American Jobs Plan will put hundreds of thousands of people to work,” Biden said, “paying the same exact rate that a union man or woman would get.” But on its current trajectory, the green economy is shaping up to look less like the industrial workplace that lifted workers into the middle class in the 20th century than something more akin to an Amazon warehouse or a fleet of Uber drivers: grueling work schedules, few unions, middling wages and limited benefits. Kellogg Dipzinski has seen this up close, at Assembly Solar, a nearly 2,000-acre solar farm under construction near Flint, Michigan. “Hey I see your ads for help,” Dipzinski, an organizer with the local electrical workers union, texted the site’s project manager in May. “We have manpower. I’ll be out that way Friday.” “Hahahahaha …. yes — help needed on unskilled low wage workers,” was the response. “Competing with our federal government for unemployment is tough.” For workers used to the pay standards of traditional energy industries, such declarations may be jarring. Building an electricity plant powered by fossil fuels usually requires hundreds of electricians, pipe fitters, millwrights and boilermakers who typically earn more than $100,000 a year in wages and benefits when they are unionised. But on solar farms, workers are often nonunion construction laborers who earn an hourly wage in the upper teens with modest benefits — even as the projects are backed by some of the largest investment firms in the world. In the case of Assembly Solar, the backer is D.E. Shaw, with more than $50 billion in assets under management, whose renewable energy arm owns and will operate the plant. While Biden has proposed higher wage floors for such work, the Senate prospects for this approach are murky. And absent such protections — or even with them — there’s a nagging concern among worker advocates that the shift to green jobs may reinforce inequality rather than alleviate it. “The clean tech industry is incredibly anti-union,” said Jim Harrison, the director of renewable energy for the Utility Workers Union of America. “It’s a lot of transient work, work that is marginal, precarious and very difficult to be able to organize.” The Lessons of 2009 Since 2000, the United States has lost about 2 million private-sector union jobs, which pay above-average wages. To help revive such “high-quality middle-class” employment, as Biden refers to it, he has proposed federal subsidies to plug abandoned oil and gas wells, build electric vehicles and charging stations and speed the transition to renewable energy. Industry studies, including one cited by the White House, suggest that vastly increasing the number of wind and solar farms could produce over half a million jobs a year over the next decade — primarily in construction and manufacturing. David Popp, an economist at Syracuse University, said those job estimates were roughly in line with his study of the green jobs created by the Recovery Act of 2009, but with two caveats: First, the green jobs created then coincided with a loss of jobs elsewhere, including high-paying, unionized industrial jobs. And the green jobs did not appear to raise the wages of workers who filled them. The effect of Biden’s plan, which would go further in displacing well-paid workers in fossil-fuel-related industries, could be similarly disappointing. In the energy industry, it takes far more people to operate a coal-powered electricity plant than it takes to operate a wind farm. Many solar farms often make do without a single worker on site. In 2023, a coal- and gas-powered plant called D.E. Karn, about an hour away from the Assembly Solar site in Michigan, is scheduled to shut down. The plant’s 130 maintenance and operations workers, who are represented by the Utility Workers Union of America and whose wages begin around $40 an hour plus benefits, are guaranteed jobs at the same wage within 60 miles. But the union, which has lost nearly 15% of the 50,000 members nationally that it had five years ago, says many will have to take less appealing jobs. The utility, Consumers Energy, concedes that it doesn’t have nearly enough renewable energy jobs to absorb all the workers. “A handful will retire,” said Joe Duvall, the local union president. “The younger ones I think have been searching for what they’d like to do outside of Karn.” While some of the new green construction jobs, such as building new power lines, may pay well, many will pay less than traditional energy industry construction jobs. The construction of a new fossil fuel plant in Michigan employs hundreds of skilled tradespeople who typically make at least $60 an hour in wages and benefits, said Mike Barnwell, the head of the carpenters union in the state. By contrast, about two-thirds of the roughly 250 workers employed on a typical utility-scale solar project are lower-skilled, according to Anthony Prisco, the head of the renewable energy practice for the staffing firm Aerotek. Prisco said his company pays “around $20” per hour for these positions, depending on the market, and that they are generally nonunion. Biden has proposed that clean energy projects, which are subsidized by federal tax credits, pay construction workers so-called prevailing wages — a level set by the government in each locality. A few states, most prominently New York, have enacted similar mandates. But it’s not clear that the Senate Democrats will be able to enact a prevailing wage mandate over Republican opposition. And the experience of the Recovery Act, which also required prevailing wages, suggests that such requirements are less effective at raising wages than union representation. Union officials also say that much of the difference in compensation arises from benefits rather than pay. A Different Kind of Owner Union officials concede that some tasks, like lifting solar panels onto racks, don’t necessarily require a skilled trades worker. But they say that even these tasks should be directly supervised by tradespeople, and that many others must be performed by tradespeople to ensure safety and quality. “If you hire people off the street at $15 per hour, they’re not skilled and they get injuries,” Barnwell said. “We would never let a bunch of assemblers work together alone.” One potentially dangerous job is wiring the hundreds or thousands of connections on a typical project — from solar panels to boxes that combine their energy to the inverters and transformers that make the electricity compatible with the rest of the grid. Barnwell’s union has developed a contract that would employ far more skilled workers than the industry norm so that two-thirds of the workers on a project are tradespeople or apprentices. To be more competitive with nonunion employers, the contract offers tradespeople only $18 an hour in benefits, roughly half the usual amount, and a wage of slightly under $30 an hour. Apprentices earn 60-95% of that wage plus benefits, depending on experience. So far, there have been relatively few takers. A key reason is that while utilities have traditionally built their own coal- and gas-powered plants, they tend to obtain wind and solar energy from other companies through so-called power purchase agreements. That electricity is then sent to customers through the grid just like electricity from any other source. When utilities build their own plants, they have little incentive to drive down labor costs because their rate of return is set by regulators — around 10% of their initial investment a year, according to securities filings. But when a solar farm is built and owned by another company — typically a green energy upstart, a traditional energy giant or an investment firm like D.E. Shaw, the owner of Assembly Solar in Michigan — that company has every incentive to hold down costs. A lower price helps secure the purchase agreement in the first place. And because the revenue is largely determined by the purchase agreement, a company like D.E. Shaw must keep costs low to have a chance of earning the kind of double-digit returns that a regulated utility earns. Every dollar D.E. Shaw saves on labor is a dollar more for its investors. “For third parties selling power to utilities, they are competing to get the contract,” said Leah Stokes, a political science professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who studies utilities. “And the difference between what they’re paid and what their costs are is profit.” Union Labor, ‘Where Possible’ In mid-2019, the electrical workers union in Flint elected a trim and tightly coiled man named Greg Remington as its business manager and de facto leader. Around the same time, Remington ran into an official with Ranger Power, the company developing the project for D.E. Shaw, at a local planning commission meeting. “He was all smiles — ‘Oh, yeah, we look forward to meeting,’” Remington said of the official. “But he never returned another phone call. I sent emails and he never got back to me.” Development is the stage of a solar project in which a company buys or leases land, secures permits and negotiates a power purchase agreement with a utility. After that, the developer may cede control of the project to a company that will build, own and operate it. But the two companies often work in tandem, as in the case of D.E. Shaw and Ranger Power, which are joint-venture partners “on certain Midwest projects and assets,” according to a Ranger spokeswoman. D.E. Shaw helps fund Ranger Power’s projects, and its involvement provides the resources and credibility to get projects off the ground. In a 2018 letter to a local building trades council in southern Illinois, known as the Egyptian Building Trades, a Ranger Power official wrote that a solar project the company was developing in the area was “committed to using the appropriate affiliates of the Egyptian Building Trades, where possible, to provide skilled craftsmen and women to perform the construction of the project.” The letter said any entity that acquired the project would be required to honor the commitment. But the project mostly hired nonunion workers to install solar panels. According to a complaint filed by a local union last fall with the Illinois Commerce Commission, the construction contractor has used workers who are not qualified and not supervised by a qualified person “to perform electrical wiring and connections” and paid them less than the union rate. Prairie State Solar, an entity owned by D.E. Shaw that was created to oversee the project, has denied the claims. Prairie State has hired union tradespeople for a portion of the work. Ranger officials likewise played up the construction jobs that the Assembly Solar project would bring to Michigan. But by the time Remington got involved, the county had approved the project and he had little leverage to ensure that they were union jobs. “A lot of this stuff, you’ve got to strike while the iron is hot,” he said. County officials say that the project is bringing large benefits — including payments to landowners and tax revenue — and that they have no say over organized labor’s involvement. “I don’t think it’s our responsibility in any way to intervene on behalf of or against a union,” said Greg Brodeur, a county commissioner. ‘Like a Moving Assembly Line’ On an afternoon in mid-May, several laborers coming off their shift at Assembly Solar said they were grateful for the work, which they said paid $16 an hour and provided health insurance and 401(k) contributions. Two said they had moved to the area from Memphis and two from Mississippi, where they had made $9 to $15 an hour — one as a cook, two in construction and one as a mechanic. One of the men, who identified himself as Travis Shaw, said he typically worked from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. six days a week, including overtime. Another worker, Quendarious Foster, who had been on the job for two weeks, said the workers motivated themselves by trying to beat their daily record, which stood at 30 “trackers,” each holding several dozen panels. “Solar is like a moving assembly line,” said Prisco, the staffing agency leader. “Instead of the product moving down the line, the people move. It replicates itself over and over again across 1,000, 2,000 acres.” Prisco and other experts said meeting a tight deadline was often critical. In some cases, project owners must pay a penalty to the electricity buyer if there are delays. Elsewhere on the site, Remington pointed out a worker whom he had seen splicing together cables, but she declined to comment when approached by a reporter. Remington, who visits frequently and has the moxie of a man who, by his own accounting, has been chased around “by some of the finest sheriffs” in Michigan during hunting season, said he had asked the worker the day before if she was a licensed journeyman or if a journeyman was directly supervising her work, as state regulations require. The worker indicated that neither was the case. A spokeswoman for McCarthy Building Cos., the construction contractor for D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, said that all electrical apprentices were supervised by licensed journeymen at the state-mandated ratio of 3-1 or better and that all splices involved a licensed electrician. During a brief encounter on site with a reporter, Brian Timmer, the project manager who had exchanged a text with a union organizer, said, “That’s the reason I can’t talk to you” when he was asked about union labor. “It gets a lot of people upset.” (Remington said he was later told by McCarthy that it might use union electricians for a limited assignment — repairing some defective components.)

Building solar farms may not build the middle class

Favelas in Rio de Janeiro are tapping into green energy, with homes in the Brazilian city's slums fitted with solar panels. This solar project is called Revolu Solar and was launched in 2015 with the objective of providing homes in Rio's favelas with clean, reliable and affordable energy. So far, homes in Babilonia and Chapeu Mangueira have received panels.

Green favelas! Solar energy lights up Rio de Janeiro's slums

Renewable energy is the need of the hour, as global warming continues to ravage the planet. Just yesterday, United Nations chief urged every country to declare a “climate emergency”. Now, sustainable ways of using resources at hand, and employing new technologies are the only ways to save planet Earth.

Energy is the source of all life on the planet, and scientists may have just figured out a way to store energy for months, or even years.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ufo-sightings-in-new-york-city-jumped-by-over-283-this-year-compared-to-2018-349410" hreflang="en">UFO sightings in New York City jumped by over 283% this year compared to 2018</a>

The material that would allow such a momentous feat to become reality is called “metal-organic framework” or MOF. In this, carbon-based molecules form structures and link themselves to metal ions.

MOFs are highly porous, which means that they attack and create composite material in collaboration with other small molecules.

Scientists added the molecules of the compound - azobenzene, which is capable of absorbing light.

On average, the composite material was able to store energy emanating from ultraviolet light for at least four months at room temperature. After this, it was able to release it again.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/black-holes-can-grow-hair-when-spinning-fast-348763" hreflang="en">Black holes can grow ‘hair’ when spinning fast</a>

This marks a big improvement over days and weeks which many light-responsive materials can manage.&nbsp;

ScienceAlert spoke to a materials chemist from Lancaster University in the UK - John Griffins who said that the material functions like a “phase change materials”, that are used to provide heat in hand warmers. However, hand warmers require to be recharged, but this material captures energy directly from the Sun.

The material still requires a lot of work before it comes universally viable. But it may eventually be used to remove ice from car windscreens, and to provide heating to homes and offices.

Additionally, a “photoswitch” like this could have applications in data storage and drug delivery.

Renewable energy is the need of the hour, as global warming continues to ravage the planet. Just yesterday, United Nations chief urged every country to declare a “climate emergency”.

Renewable energy is the need of the hour, as global warming continues to ravage the planet. Just yesterday, United Nations chief urged every country to declare a “climate emergency”. Now, sustainable ways of using resources at hand, and employing new technologies are the only ways to save planet Earth. Energy is the source of all life on the planet, and scientists may have just figured out a way to store energy for months, or even years. Also read: UFO sightings in New York City jumped by over 283% this year compared to 2018 The material that would allow such a momentous feat to become reality is called “metal-organic framework” or MOF. In this, carbon-based molecules form structures and link themselves to metal ions. MOFs are highly porous, which means that they attack and create composite material in collaboration with other small molecules. Scientists added the molecules of the compound - azobenzene, which is capable of absorbing light. On average, the composite material was able to store energy emanating from ultraviolet light for at least four months at room temperature. After this, it was able to release it again. Also read: Black holes can grow ‘hair’ when spinning fast This marks a big improvement over days and weeks which many light-responsive materials can manage. ScienceAlert spoke to a materials chemist from Lancaster University in the UK - John Griffins who said that the material functions like a “phase change materials”, that are used to provide heat in hand warmers. However, hand warmers require to be recharged, but this material captures energy directly from the Sun. The material still requires a lot of work before it comes universally viable. But it may eventually be used to remove ice from car windscreens, and to provide heating to homes and offices. Additionally, a “photoswitch” like this could have applications in data storage and drug delivery.

New material can store solar energy for months... and even years!

India aims for 50% of fuel stations owned by public sector oil companies to be operated by solar power within five years under the government's green energy drive, its oil minister said on Tuesday.

Dharmendra Pradhan said India's three state-backed fuel retailers Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum, which operate about 63,150 fuel station across India, are moving to deploy solar panels across their operations.

They have currently installed a combined 270 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity and will add 60 MW more capacity in the coming year, Pradhan said.

With government encouragement, Indian oil and gas companies are turning to investing in green energy such as renewables,&nbsp;biofuels&nbsp;and&nbsp;hydrogen to reduce the country's carbon footprint.

"The oil and gas public sector undertakings are increasingly evaluating new opportunities in the solar and renewable energy space for diversification," Pradhan said at the World Solar Technology Summit of the International Solar Alliance.

He did not give any investment figures.

India imports over 80% of its solar cell and module requirements from China, as domestic manufacturers have struggled to compete with cheap Chinese modules. However, Pradhan said companies have expressed interest in setting up new manufacturing capacity in India amounting to 10 GW of solar power equipment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants companies to procure most of their equipment from local industry to boost the Indian economy, which has now been hit by COVID-19.

Asia's third-largest economy has set a target to have a renewable energy capacity of 175 GW by 2022. That would include 100 GW of solar capacity, up from around 35 GW currently.

India aims for 50% of fuel stations owned by public sector oil companies to be operated by solar power within five years under the government's green energy drive, its oil minister said on Tuesday.

India aims for 50% of fuel stations owned by public sector oil companies to be operated by solar power within five years under the government's green energy drive, its oil minister said on Tuesday. Dharmendra Pradhan said India's three state-backed fuel retailers Indian Oil Corp, Hindustan Petroleum Corp and Bharat Petroleum, which operate about 63,150 fuel station across India, are moving to deploy solar panels across their operations. They have currently installed a combined 270 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity and will add 60 MW more capacity in the coming year, Pradhan said. With government encouragement, Indian oil and gas companies are turning to investing in green energy such as renewables, biofuels and hydrogen to reduce the country's carbon footprint. "The oil and gas public sector undertakings are increasingly evaluating new opportunities in the solar and renewable energy space for diversification," Pradhan said at the World Solar Technology Summit of the International Solar Alliance. He did not give any investment figures. India imports over 80% of its solar cell and module requirements from China, as domestic manufacturers have struggled to compete with cheap Chinese modules. However, Pradhan said companies have expressed interest in setting up new manufacturing capacity in India amounting to 10 GW of solar power equipment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants companies to procure most of their equipment from local industry to boost the Indian economy, which has now been hit by COVID-19. Asia's third-largest economy has set a target to have a renewable energy capacity of 175 GW by 2022. That would include 100 GW of solar capacity, up from around 35 GW currently.

India aims for half of state-run fuel stations to be solar-powered in five years

As the last solar eclipse of the decade began to be witnessed&nbsp;in some parts of the world, PM Modi tweeted saying although he was enthusiastic about it but he couldn't see it "due to the cloud cover".

"I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts," India's prime minister said in a tweet on Wednesday.

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Like many Indians, I was enthusiastic about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/solareclipse2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#solareclipse2019</a>. 
 
Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts. <a href="https://t.co/EI1dcIWRIz">pic.twitter.com/EI1dcIWRIz</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1210064755584454656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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A Twitter user shot back saying it will now become a meme, to which the prime minister replied: "Most welcome....enjoy." with a smile.

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Most welcome....enjoy :) <a href="https://t.co/uSFlDp0Ogm">https://t.co/uSFlDp0Ogm</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1210070312760557570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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During a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun which appears like a Ring of fire also called the "Surya Grahan" in Hindi.

People gathered early on Thursday&nbsp;to watch the celestial miracle with full solar eclipse expected in India, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Reports said Thailand too will witness a partial solar eclipse including the Middle-east and South Asian countries. It is expected to be at its peak in mid-day.

In India, the solar eclipse was visible in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat and national capital Delhi. The eclipse which began on Thursday&nbsp;morning is expected to be visible till mid-afternoon in the country.

As the last solar eclipse of the decade began to be witnessed in some parts of the world, PM Modi tweeted saying although he was enthusiastic about it but he couldn't see it "due to the cloud cover".

As the last solar eclipse of the decade began to be witnessed in some parts of the world, PM Modi tweeted saying although he was enthusiastic about it but he couldn't see it "due to the cloud cover". "I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts," India's prime minister said in a tweet on Wednesday. Like many Indians, I was enthusiastic about #solareclipse2019. Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover but I did catch glimpses of the eclipse in Kozhikode and other parts on live stream. Also enriched my knowledge on the subject by interacting with experts. pic.twitter.com/EI1dcIWRIz — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2019 × A Twitter user shot back saying it will now become a meme, to which the prime minister replied: "Most welcome....enjoy." with a smile. Most welcome....enjoy :) https://t.co/uSFlDp0Ogm — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2019 × During a solar eclipse, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun which appears like a Ring of fire also called the "Surya Grahan" in Hindi. People gathered early on Thursday to watch the celestial miracle with full solar eclipse expected in India, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Reports said Thailand too will witness a partial solar eclipse including the Middle-east and South Asian countries. It is expected to be at its peak in mid-day. In India, the solar eclipse was visible in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat and national capital Delhi. The eclipse which began on Thursday morning is expected to be visible till mid-afternoon in the country.

Unfortunately, I could not see the Sun due to cloud cover, tweets PM Modi on solar eclipse

Stressing that India would generate 40 per cent of power from non-fossil fuels by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday called for connecting solar energy supply across borders giving the mantra of 'One World One Sun One Grid'.

"We have a dream One World, One Sun One Grid. We generate round the clock electricity from Sun as it sets in one part of the world but rises in another part. Sun never sets for entire earth," PM Modi said addressing inaugural function of 2nd Global RE-Invest meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association and the first assembly of International Solar Alliance here in the capital.

The same event also marked the inauguration of the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest (Renewable Energy Investors' Meet and Expo). United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was also present on the occasion.

PM Modi said he saw the 121-country International Solar Alliance as the future OPEC for meeting energy needs of the world.

Oil cartel OPEC led by Saudi Arabia currently meets close to half of the world's oil needs.

He said solar power will play the same role that oil wells have played over the past few decades in meeting global energy needs.

Humans have in the last 150-200 years relied on resources trapped below the earth's surface for meeting energy needs. But for a secure future, resources available above the ground like solar and wind energy need to be harnessed, he said.

Talking about India's plans for the renewable energy he said that India would add as much as 50 GW of non-hydro renewable energy to existing 72 GW and is successfully marching on the way to achieve the target of having 175 GW of clean energy by 2022.

The prime minister was of the view that this was the right time to invest in renewable energy because there is a possibility of USD 70-80 billion business in the next four years in India.

The Prime Minister said in the last four years USD 42 billion has been invested in clean energy in India.&nbsp;

He also said that India's solar energy increased by nine times in the last four years after his government took over in May 2014.

Elaborating about India's plans in renewables, he said that in the next four years as many as 28 lakh solar pumps would be installed which would help avoid 10 GW generation capacity.

He also told that under UJALA scheme, 31 crore LED bulbs were distributed which save 40000 Million Units per year and have saved Rs 16,000 crore besides reducing CO2 emissions.

He also informed that India has decided 40 per cent of electricity capacity would be non-fossil fuel based by 2030.

He said, "Today ISA has become big hope for people. In three years, it has become an inter-governmental organisation. 125 crore Indians feel pride that ISA is headquartered in India.

"I think whenever people would discuss a big organisation for human development then ISA would to on the top of the list. Whatever role OPEC is playing today to meet the energy requirement of the world, that would be played by ISA in coming days. Whatever role is played by oil wells today, would be played by sunlight."

He also said, "We need to expand the scope of ISA beyond 125 tropical countries which fall between tropic of cancer and Capricorn. India in the first assembly of ISA will propose to send all United National member nations the proposal to become a member of the body."

On this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "It is India where we are going to see global renewable energy revolution. Solar energy is at the centre of this revolution."

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a person who has single-handedly put India in the renewable map of the world. The ISA is an action-oriented organisation."

Stressing that India would generate 40 per cent of power from non-fossil fuels by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday called for connecting solar energy supply across borders giving the mantra of 'One World One Sun One Grid'.

Stressing that India would generate 40 per cent of power from non-fossil fuels by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday called for connecting solar energy supply across borders giving the mantra of 'One World One Sun One Grid'. "We have a dream One World, One Sun One Grid. We generate round the clock electricity from Sun as it sets in one part of the world but rises in another part. Sun never sets for entire earth," PM Modi said addressing inaugural function of 2nd Global RE-Invest meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association and the first assembly of International Solar Alliance here in the capital. The same event also marked the inauguration of the second IORA Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting, and the 2nd Global RE-Invest (Renewable Energy Investors' Meet and Expo). United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was also present on the occasion. PM Modi said he saw the 121-country International Solar Alliance as the future OPEC for meeting energy needs of the world. Oil cartel OPEC led by Saudi Arabia currently meets close to half of the world's oil needs. He said solar power will play the same role that oil wells have played over the past few decades in meeting global energy needs. Humans have in the last 150-200 years relied on resources trapped below the earth's surface for meeting energy needs. But for a secure future, resources available above the ground like solar and wind energy need to be harnessed, he said. Talking about India's plans for the renewable energy he said that India would add as much as 50 GW of non-hydro renewable energy to existing 72 GW and is successfully marching on the way to achieve the target of having 175 GW of clean energy by 2022. The prime minister was of the view that this was the right time to invest in renewable energy because there is a possibility of USD 70-80 billion business in the next four years in India. The Prime Minister said in the last four years USD 42 billion has been invested in clean energy in India. He also said that India's solar energy increased by nine times in the last four years after his government took over in May 2014. Elaborating about India's plans in renewables, he said that in the next four years as many as 28 lakh solar pumps would be installed which would help avoid 10 GW generation capacity. He also told that under UJALA scheme, 31 crore LED bulbs were distributed which save 40000 Million Units per year and have saved Rs 16,000 crore besides reducing CO2 emissions. He also informed that India has decided 40 per cent of electricity capacity would be non-fossil fuel based by 2030. He said, "Today ISA has become big hope for people. In three years, it has become an inter-governmental organisation. 125 crore Indians feel pride that ISA is headquartered in India. "I think whenever people would discuss a big organisation for human development then ISA would to on the top of the list. Whatever role OPEC is playing today to meet the energy requirement of the world, that would be played by ISA in coming days. Whatever role is played by oil wells today, would be played by sunlight." He also said, "We need to expand the scope of ISA beyond 125 tropical countries which fall between tropic of cancer and Capricorn. India in the first assembly of ISA will propose to send all United National member nations the proposal to become a member of the body." On this occasion, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "It is India where we are going to see global renewable energy revolution. Solar energy is at the centre of this revolution." External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a person who has single-handedly put India in the renewable map of the world. The ISA is an action-oriented organisation."

India targeting 40% of power generation from non-fossil fuel by 2030: PM Modi

Tamil Nadu is now one of the top nine markets in the world to have achieved a large share of renewable energy, analysis by the Institute For Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) &nbspmentioned.&nbsp

Renewables currently account for 16% of Tamil Nadu’s electricity generation, its second largest source of energy after coal and is the only Asian market on the list. Its wind turbines have a combined installed capacity of 7.9 gigawatts (GW).&nbsp

As well as being India’s number one state for wind energy, Tamil Nadu is also top for rooftop solar, and third for overall solar capacity including large-scale solar farms.&nbsp

It tops in wind power capacity, with around 7,870 MW as of March 2017, followed by Gujarat (5,429 MW) and Maharashtra (4,752 MW). Tamil Nadu is also India’s oldest power producer in this segment, with most of its wind farms around 25 years old.

In solar, it stands third with 1,697 MW as of June 2017. This includes the world’s second-largest single-site solar farm (648 MW). Andhra Pradesh (2,010 MW) and Rajasthan (1,961 MW) are the frontrunners.

The availability of rich wind and solar energy resources, a wide gap between power demand and supply, and robust government policies helped Tamil Nadu take the lead.

The coastal state sees heavy wind flows for about six months a year and four more months of moderate flows. It also receives 300 days of clear sunshine, experts said.

The other leaders in the list included California, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, South Australia, Spain, Tamil Nadu, Texas, and Uruguay.

Renewables currently account for 16% of Tamil Nadu’s electricity generation, its second largest source of energy after coal and is the only Asian market on the list

Tamil Nadu is now one of the top nine markets in the world to have achieved a large share of renewable energy, analysis by the Institute For Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) &nbspmentioned. Renewables currently account for 16% of Tamil Nadu’s electricity generation, its second largest source of energy after coal and is the only Asian market on the list. Its wind turbines have a combined installed capacity of 7.9 gigawatts (GW). As well as being India’s number one state for wind energy, Tamil Nadu is also top for rooftop solar, and third for overall solar capacity including large-scale solar farms. It tops in wind power capacity, with around 7,870 MW as of March 2017, followed by Gujarat (5,429 MW) and Maharashtra (4,752 MW). Tamil Nadu is also India’s oldest power producer in this segment, with most of its wind farms around 25 years old. In solar, it stands third with 1,697 MW as of June 2017. This includes the world’s second-largest single-site solar farm (648 MW). Andhra Pradesh (2,010 MW) and Rajasthan (1,961 MW) are the frontrunners. The availability of rich wind and solar energy resources, a wide gap between power demand and supply, and robust government policies helped Tamil Nadu take the lead. The coastal state sees heavy wind flows for about six months a year and four more months of moderate flows. It also receives 300 days of clear sunshine, experts said. The other leaders in the list included California, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, South Australia, Spain, Tamil Nadu, Texas, and Uruguay.

Tamil Nadu one of the top sources of renewable energy in the world: Report

Guwahati now has India's first railway station run by solar power.

The project of installing solar panels was commissioned last year in April 2017.

Around 2352 solar modules with a capacity of generating 700 kwp has been set up over the roof of the Guwahati railway station. have been installed at the roof-top solar power plant.

The solar-powered station is aimed at reducing carbon-footprint as well as cut down power costs drastically.

Around 6.3 lakh kg carbon dioxide emissions have been cut off between April 12 last year to May 10 this year.

The project cost is estimated to be Rs 6.7 crore, as per Indian Railways. The solar power plant will save Rs 67 lakh worth of electricity.

With an average power generation capacity per day is 2048 KWh, the solar panels till date have generated a total of 7,96,669 KWH of electricity.

The Indian Railways is currently the country’s largest consumer of electricity and diesel and spent around Rs31,000 crore, or 18% of its operational expenses, on fuel in the financial year 2016. In part to bring down this burgeoning fuel bill, the state-run transportation network has been taking steps to transition to renewable energy for a few years now.

(With inputs from ANI)

The project cost is estimated to be Rs 6.7 crore, as per Indian Railways. The solar power plant will save Rs 67 lakh worth of electricity.

Guwahati now has India's first railway station run by solar power. The project of installing solar panels was commissioned last year in April 2017. Around 2352 solar modules with a capacity of generating 700 kwp has been set up over the roof of the Guwahati railway station. have been installed at the roof-top solar power plant. The solar-powered station is aimed at reducing carbon-footprint as well as cut down power costs drastically. Around 6.3 lakh kg carbon dioxide emissions have been cut off between April 12 last year to May 10 this year. The project cost is estimated to be Rs 6.7 crore, as per Indian Railways. The solar power plant will save Rs 67 lakh worth of electricity. With an average power generation capacity per day is 2048 KWh, the solar panels till date have generated a total of 7,96,669 KWH of electricity. The Indian Railways is currently the country’s largest consumer of electricity and diesel and spent around Rs31,000 crore, or 18% of its operational expenses, on fuel in the financial year 2016. In part to bring down this burgeoning fuel bill, the state-run transportation network has been taking steps to transition to renewable energy for a few years now. (With inputs from ANI)

Guwahati railway station is now fully powered by solar energy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday suggested looking back to the Vedas in a bid to combat climate change.

&quot;Vedas consider the Sun as the soul of the world, it has been considered as a life nurturer. Today, for combating climate change, we need to look at this ancient idea to find a way,&quot; the Prime Minister noted.

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Veda&#39;s consider the sun as the soul of the world, it has been considered as a life nurturer. Today, for combating climate change, we need to look at this ancient idea to find a way: PM Modi at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalSolarAlliance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalSolarAlliance</a> <a href="https://t.co/NQmGxlM3yB">pic.twitter.com/NQmGxlM3yB</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/972696888653869056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He also called for framing of regulations and standards to promote solar energy.

Speaking at the first ever International Solar Alliance Summit in New Delhi, the prime minister&nbsp;welcomed the measures to promote the use of affordable technology and called for raising the&nbsp;share of solar electricity in the energy mix.&nbsp;

Foreign dignitaries from 23 nations were in attendance at the summit. The event was co-hosted by India and France.&nbsp;

The President of France gave the inaugural address at the event following by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who talked about solar energy deployment in the country. &nbsp;

&quot;In India, we have launched the world&#39;s largest renewable energy expansion programme which will produce 175-gigawatt electricity from renewable sources by 2022; 100 gigawatts from solar,&quot; the Prime Minister noted.&nbsp;

He also said that distribution of 28 crores LED bulbs in 3 years has saved close to $2 billion and 4 gigawatts of electricity.

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भारत में हमने दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा विस्तार कार्यक्रम शुरू किया है। 
हम 2022 तक renewables से 175 GW बिजली उत्पन्न करेंगे जिसमें से 100 GW बिजली सौर से होगी। हमने इसमे से 20 GW installed solar power का लक्ष्य हासिल कर लिया है: PM
&mdash; PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/972696586131091457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;India will provide 500 training slots for ISA member countries; start solar tech mission to lead research and development in the sector,&quot; PM Modi stated.

He also suggested measures to increase solar energy consumption.

&quot;To promote the use of solar energy, the availability of technology and development, economic resources, reduction in prices, development of storage technology, mass manufacturing, and innovation require a complete ecosystem,&quot; PM Modi said.

French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his country&#39;s commitment toward solar energy promotion on the occasion.&nbsp;

&quot;With PM Modi, we are committed and have same obsession-creating momentum, inspiring people and gathering them to deliver results. But we&#39;re obsessed by concrete results, so now we are creating new momentum, we take new commitment to deliver complete results for our countries and the planet,&quot; Macron noted.&nbsp;

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With PM Modi we are committed&amp;we hv same obsession-creating momentum,inspiring people&amp;gathering them to deliver results.But we&#39;re obsessed by concrete results,so now we are creating new momentum,we take new commitment to deliver complete results for our countries&amp;planet: E Macron <a href="https://t.co/fGzsC2VnZs">pic.twitter.com/fGzsC2VnZs</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/972697068069425153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The summit was attended by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid&nbsp;among other dignitaries.&nbsp;

PM Modi also suggested measures to increase solar energy consumption

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday suggested looking back to the Vedas in a bid to combat climate change. "Vedas consider the Sun as the soul of the world, it has been considered as a life nurturer. Today, for combating climate change, we need to look at this ancient idea to find a way," the Prime Minister noted. Veda's consider the sun as the soul of the world, it has been considered as a life nurturer. Today, for combating climate change, we need to look at this ancient idea to find a way: PM Modi at #InternationalSolarAlliance pic.twitter.com/NQmGxlM3yB — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018 × He also called for framing of regulations and standards to promote solar energy. Speaking at the first ever International Solar Alliance Summit in New Delhi, the prime minister welcomed the measures to promote the use of affordable technology and called for raising the share of solar electricity in the energy mix. Foreign dignitaries from 23 nations were in attendance at the summit. The event was co-hosted by India and France. The President of France gave the inaugural address at the event following by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who talked about solar energy deployment in the country. "In India, we have launched the world's largest renewable energy expansion programme which will produce 175-gigawatt electricity from renewable sources by 2022; 100 gigawatts from solar," the Prime Minister noted. He also said that distribution of 28 crores LED bulbs in 3 years has saved close to $2 billion and 4 gigawatts of electricity. भारत में हमने दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा नवीकरणीय ऊर्जा विस्तार कार्यक्रम शुरू किया है। हम 2022 तक renewables से 175 GW बिजली उत्पन्न करेंगे जिसमें से 100 GW बिजली सौर से होगी। हमने इसमे से 20 GW installed solar power का लक्ष्य हासिल कर लिया है: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 11, 2018 × "India will provide 500 training slots for ISA member countries; start solar tech mission to lead research and development in the sector," PM Modi stated. He also suggested measures to increase solar energy consumption. "To promote the use of solar energy, the availability of technology and development, economic resources, reduction in prices, development of storage technology, mass manufacturing, and innovation require a complete ecosystem," PM Modi said. French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his country's commitment toward solar energy promotion on the occasion. "With PM Modi, we are committed and have same obsession-creating momentum, inspiring people and gathering them to deliver results. But we're obsessed by concrete results, so now we are creating new momentum, we take new commitment to deliver complete results for our countries and the planet," Macron noted. With PM Modi we are committed&we hv same obsession-creating momentum,inspiring people&gathering them to deliver results.But we're obsessed by concrete results,so now we are creating new momentum,we take new commitment to deliver complete results for our countries&planet: E Macron pic.twitter.com/fGzsC2VnZs — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018 × The summit was attended by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid among other dignitaries.

Turn to vedas to combat climate change: Modi at Solar Summit

The first ever International Solar Alliance Summit got underway in Delhi on Sunday morning with foreign dignitaries from 23 nations in attendance. The event is being co-hosted by India and France.&nbsp;

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PM Narendra Modi, French President Macron and other leaders at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalSolarAlliance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalSolarAlliance</a> in Delhi <a href="https://t.co/jvIC3YmjDi">pic.twitter.com/jvIC3YmjDi</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/972689640007393280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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While promoting solar energy across the globe -- especially in countries that are part of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) -- as an alternative and sustainable form of energy will be the primary agenda of the summit, Indian dignitaries will turn the spotlight on India&#39;s ambitious renewable energy target.&nbsp;

India aims to achieve 175 gigawatt&nbsp;(GW) clean energy capacities, including 100 GW solar and 60 GW wind power.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Live: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternationalSolarAlliance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternationalSolarAlliance</a> Summit underway at Delhi&#39;s Rashtrapati Bhavan. <a href="https://t.co/Cz58XNmzmI">https://t.co/Cz58XNmzmI</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/972686370417229824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has been pushing for the promotion of solar energy in order to create a low-carbon world economy. The event is likely to see the launch of two key initiatives which will help facilitate the acceleration of solar energy deployment in 121 sun-rich countries situated between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

&quot;Looking forward to co-chairing the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance with President @EmmanuelMacron on 11th March. The ISA is a unique effort that brings the world together to harness solar energy and create a cleaner as well as greener future,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted ahead of the summit.

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कल International Solar Alliance की Founding Conference की 
सह-अध्यक्षता राष्ट्रपति मेक्रों और मैं करेंगे। 
Planet Earth के भविष्य की खातिर, 
हम सभी International Solar Alliance की सफ़लता के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं: PM
&mdash; PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/972383870074085376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The event is being co-hosted by India and France

The first ever International Solar Alliance Summit got underway in Delhi on Sunday morning with foreign dignitaries from 23 nations in attendance. The event is being co-hosted by India and France. PM Narendra Modi, French President Macron and other leaders at the #InternationalSolarAlliance in Delhi pic.twitter.com/jvIC3YmjDi — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018 × While promoting solar energy across the globe -- especially in countries that are part of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) -- as an alternative and sustainable form of energy will be the primary agenda of the summit, Indian dignitaries will turn the spotlight on India's ambitious renewable energy target. India aims to achieve 175 gigawatt (GW) clean energy capacities, including 100 GW solar and 60 GW wind power. #WATCH Live: #InternationalSolarAlliance Summit underway at Delhi's Rashtrapati Bhavan. https://t.co/Cz58XNmzmI — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018 × The International Solar Alliance (ISA) has been pushing for the promotion of solar energy in order to create a low-carbon world economy. The event is likely to see the launch of two key initiatives which will help facilitate the acceleration of solar energy deployment in 121 sun-rich countries situated between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. "Looking forward to co-chairing the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance with President @EmmanuelMacron on 11th March. The ISA is a unique effort that brings the world together to harness solar energy and create a cleaner as well as greener future," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted ahead of the summit. कल International Solar Alliance की Founding Conference की सह-अध्यक्षता राष्ट्रपति मेक्रों और मैं करेंगे। Planet Earth के भविष्य की खातिर, हम सभी International Solar Alliance की सफ़लता के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 10, 2018 ×

International Solar Summit: World leaders come together to create a low-carbon economy

King Abdullah II of Jordan has started his state visit to India today. This will be King Abdullah&#39;s second state visit to India. The visit follows the visit by PM Modi in early February as part of his West Asia tour.

While PM Modi and King Abdullah are expected to jointly address a counter-terror and deradicalisation meet, the subjects that will figure largely on the bilateral agenda includes defence, security and investments.

India&rsquo;s relationship with Jordan has always been characterised by warmth and goodwill based on mutual respect. Cordial relations with Jordan are important for us, as Amman is not only a harbinger of stability in a volatile region and also a key player in the Palestinian question, being among the few Muslim majority countries that are having diplomatic ties with Israel. Jordan plays an important role in protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, based on the Hashemite custodianship.&nbsp;

Jordan is also crucial to India&rsquo;s effort to gather regional intelligence and enhance counter-terrorism cooperation. New mechanisms for closer intelligence exchange and cooperation in de-radicalisation have been instituted. King Abdullah has invited India to be part of the Aqaba Meetings against terrorism and radicalisation, and India has actively participated in the event. During this visit, institutionalisation of defence cooperation and signing of several agreements in media cooperation, upgrading of trade and investment targets, diplomatic visa-free travel, etc. are expected to take place.

Jordan is home to more than 10,000 Indians, who are employed in textile, construction and manufacturing sectors, fertiliser companies, health sector, universities, IT, financial companies and multilateral organisation. Jordan also plays an important role in India&#39;s food security through provision of fertilisers and phosphates. It would be desirable to have a long-term agreement for the supply of Jordanian phosphate and other minerals to cater to our agricultural requirements. Since Jordan has one of the largest deposits of oil shale, it would be desirable to initiate a serious dialogue for future exploration. Jordan can easily play a significant role in our food and energy security.

India is Jordan&rsquo;s fourth largest trade partner after Iraq, Saudi Arabia and China. As of January 2016, Indians owned around 25 textile mills in the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) in Jordan at a total investment of USD 300 million. Bilateral trade has been valued at USD 1.3 billion. Indian investors have taken advantage of Jordan&#39;s free trade agreements with the US and are trying to make it a hub of textile exports. India has also extended a USD 100 million line of credit to promote trade and investment with Jordan. Possibilities for joint ventures in the fields of leather, automobile, IT, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy(Solar) and construction sectors can be explored further. The newly constituted Investment Commission is actively pursuing to attract investors from all across the world, including Indian investments in Jordan especially in ICT, Finance/Banking Services, Renewable energy (Solar) and Bio-medical services sectors.&nbsp;

The bilateral relationship between India and Jordan in the 21st century heralds a new era in cooperation. 
&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

It would be desirable to initiate a serious dialogue with Jordon as Jordan can play a significant role in our food and energy security. moreover, oil exploration will be easier since Jordon has large deposits of oil shale.

King Abdullah II of Jordan has started his state visit to India today. This will be King Abdullah's second state visit to India. The visit follows the visit by PM Modi in early February as part of his West Asia tour. While PM Modi and King Abdullah are expected to jointly address a counter-terror and deradicalisation meet, the subjects that will figure largely on the bilateral agenda includes defence, security and investments. India’s relationship with Jordan has always been characterised by warmth and goodwill based on mutual respect. Cordial relations with Jordan are important for us, as Amman is not only a harbinger of stability in a volatile region and also a key player in the Palestinian question, being among the few Muslim majority countries that are having diplomatic ties with Israel. Jordan plays an important role in protecting Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, based on the Hashemite custodianship. Jordan is also crucial to India’s effort to gather regional intelligence and enhance counter-terrorism cooperation. New mechanisms for closer intelligence exchange and cooperation in de-radicalisation have been instituted. King Abdullah has invited India to be part of the Aqaba Meetings against terrorism and radicalisation, and India has actively participated in the event. During this visit, institutionalisation of defence cooperation and signing of several agreements in media cooperation, upgrading of trade and investment targets, diplomatic visa-free travel, etc. are expected to take place. Jordan is home to more than 10,000 Indians, who are employed in textile, construction and manufacturing sectors, fertiliser companies, health sector, universities, IT, financial companies and multilateral organisation. Jordan also plays an important role in India's food security through provision of fertilisers and phosphates. It would be desirable to have a long-term agreement for the supply of Jordanian phosphate and other minerals to cater to our agricultural requirements. Since Jordan has one of the largest deposits of oil shale, it would be desirable to initiate a serious dialogue for future exploration. Jordan can easily play a significant role in our food and energy security. India is Jordan’s fourth largest trade partner after Iraq, Saudi Arabia and China. As of January 2016, Indians owned around 25 textile mills in the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs) in Jordan at a total investment of USD 300 million. Bilateral trade has been valued at USD 1.3 billion. Indian investors have taken advantage of Jordan's free trade agreements with the US and are trying to make it a hub of textile exports. India has also extended a USD 100 million line of credit to promote trade and investment with Jordan. Possibilities for joint ventures in the fields of leather, automobile, IT, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy(Solar) and construction sectors can be explored further. The newly constituted Investment Commission is actively pursuing to attract investors from all across the world, including Indian investments in Jordan especially in ICT, Finance/Banking Services, Renewable energy (Solar) and Bio-medical services sectors. The bilateral relationship between India and Jordan in the 21st century heralds a new era in cooperation. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: King Abdullah's visit will benefit both India and Jordan

As part of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in 2015, countries across the world came together and adopted a climate agreement whereby they indicated their long term climate goals post 2020. These goals or targets were laid out in each country&rsquo;s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) with the aim to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2&deg;C.

India and China have both made significant commitments as part of their INDC. For instance, in case of India, these include reduction of the emission intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent from 2005 levels, increase the percentage of non-fossil fuel electricity to 40 per cent of total electric power capacity and create a carbon sink.&nbsp;China similarly has made a commitment to peak Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030, lower carbon intensity of GDP by 60 to 65 per cent below its 2005 levels by 2030, and&nbsp;increase it&#39;s non-fossil fuel energy to 20 per cent of the total primary energy supply (TPES) by 2030. It has also pledged to increase its forest stock.

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<h5>One problem that India faces along with the other BRICS countries includes the financing of clean energy.</h5>
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In line with India&rsquo;s pledge of generating 40 per cent of TPES through non-fossil fuels, India has declared an aim to have installed renewable energy capacity of 175 gigawatts (GW) of which solar photovoltaics (PV) is 100 GW by 2030. This includes increasing ground mounted grid connected solar power to 60 GW and increasing rooftop grid interactive solar power to 40 GW. Earlier, in 2010, with the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, 100 GW of solar installations were planned by 2022.&nbsp;

India&rsquo;s current solar generation capacity is about 13 GW in 2017. In 2016, rooftop solar contributed to an approximate total of 1 GW of generated solar power. This means that an additional 87 GW has to be installed in the next twelve years, which roughly translates to an addition of 4GW (9.6 GW) of the mounted grid and 3.25 GW (7.8 GW) of rooftop every year till 2030 (2022). Many have suggested that this is not possible.

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<h5>China constitutes about 75 per cent of the Indian solar PV market. The main reason is the cost competitiveness of the Chinese, with the cost of solar modules and cells being 25-50 per cent lower than in India.</h5>
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Solar power is generated by converting sunlight into electricity using either&nbsp;PV&nbsp;or using concentrated solar power (using lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam) or a combination. For generating photovoltaic solar power, crystalline silicon PV module is used. This silica is used to make polysilicon, ingot, wafer, PV cell all of which are used to make crystalline silicon PV module. Eight firms worldwide make about 80 per cent polysilicon. Others buy from them. Companies who buy polysilicon may sell wafers or carry out all of the subsequent steps of the wafer, cell, and module manufacturing and assembly. Some PV manufacturers such as Yingli make their own polysilicon.

The lack of upstream segments in this value chain adds to the vulnerability of Indian manufacturers. India does not produce polysilicon, ingot or wafer. However, crystalline silicon PV module is produced in India. The share of the Indian modules is about 10 per cent with imports from China constituting about 75 per cent of the Indian solar PV market. The main reason is the cost competitiveness of the Chinese, with the cost of solar modules and cells being 25-50 per cent lower than in India. India imports polysilicon, as well as wafers, and other ingredients such as ethylene vinyl acetate, which adds to the cost of production of modules.&nbsp;

Incidentally, the price of solar cells has fallen from 50 cents per kWh to 33 cents per kWh, in three years since 2010, when launch in 2010 of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the target of which was dramatically upgraded in 2014 to 100 GW of solar installations by 2022. In 2016, the WTO ruled against India that the domestic content requirements for solar cells and modules under the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission amounted to trade-related investment measures as they favour domestic products over imported products. The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association have recently had launched an anti-dumping investigation against China, Taiwan, and Malaysia of alleged dumping of &#39;solar cells whether or not assembled partially or fully in modules or panels or on glass or some other suitable substrates&#39;.&nbsp;

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<h5>China&rsquo;s top solar module manufacturer, are in talks with India&#39;s Essel group to set up a solar module manufacturing facility in India.</h5>
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It has been debated that Indian solar PV industry should be developed with support from policies of the government like a capital subsidy and lower interest loans. However, the scale of Indian manufacturing is too small (in comparison to China). Four states - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, account for over three-quarters of today&rsquo;s installed capacity. Rooftop solar also has the potential to become a more important part of India&rsquo;s solar portfolio and is being taken up by Indian Railways and on canals as well.&nbsp;

One problem that India faces along with the other BRICS countries includes the financing of clean energy. It has been estimated that India might need USD 175 billion in this regard. India has emerged as the second most attractive destination for investment in renewables ahead of the US according to a ranking by Ernst and Young (EY) last year. China is the most attractive destination. The New Development Bank&nbsp;has sanctioned a USD 250 million loan for India to fund its renewable energy. Clearly, more is needed.&nbsp;

Chinese firms such as GLC-Poly Energy, China&rsquo;s top solar module manufacturer, are in talks with India&#39;s Essel group to set up a solar module manufacturing facility in India. Cooperation between China and India in this regard could go a long way in achieving the NDC target of both countries.

India and China need to work simultaneously to curb the increase in global average temperature.

As part of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris in 2015, countries across the world came together and adopted a climate agreement whereby they indicated their long term climate goals post 2020. These goals or targets were laid out in each country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) with the aim to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C. India and China have both made significant commitments as part of their INDC. For instance, in case of India, these include reduction of the emission intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent from 2005 levels, increase the percentage of non-fossil fuel electricity to 40 per cent of total electric power capacity and create a carbon sink. China similarly has made a commitment to peak Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2030, lower carbon intensity of GDP by 60 to 65 per cent below its 2005 levels by 2030, and increase it's non-fossil fuel energy to 20 per cent of the total primary energy supply (TPES) by 2030. It has also pledged to increase its forest stock. One problem that India faces along with the other BRICS countries includes the financing of clean energy. × In line with India’s pledge of generating 40 per cent of TPES through non-fossil fuels, India has declared an aim to have installed renewable energy capacity of 175 gigawatts (GW) of which solar photovoltaics (PV) is 100 GW by 2030. This includes increasing ground mounted grid connected solar power to 60 GW and increasing rooftop grid interactive solar power to 40 GW. Earlier, in 2010, with the launch of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, 100 GW of solar installations were planned by 2022. India’s current solar generation capacity is about 13 GW in 2017. In 2016, rooftop solar contributed to an approximate total of 1 GW of generated solar power. This means that an additional 87 GW has to be installed in the next twelve years, which roughly translates to an addition of 4GW (9.6 GW) of the mounted grid and 3.25 GW (7.8 GW) of rooftop every year till 2030 (2022). Many have suggested that this is not possible. China constitutes about 75 per cent of the Indian solar PV market. The main reason is the cost competitiveness of the Chinese, with the cost of solar modules and cells being 25-50 per cent lower than in India. × Solar power is generated by converting sunlight into electricity using either PV or using concentrated solar power (using lenses or mirrors and tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight into a small beam) or a combination. For generating photovoltaic solar power, crystalline silicon PV module is used. This silica is used to make polysilicon, ingot, wafer, PV cell all of which are used to make crystalline silicon PV module. Eight firms worldwide make about 80 per cent polysilicon. Others buy from them. Companies who buy polysilicon may sell wafers or carry out all of the subsequent steps of the wafer, cell, and module manufacturing and assembly. Some PV manufacturers such as Yingli make their own polysilicon. The lack of upstream segments in this value chain adds to the vulnerability of Indian manufacturers. India does not produce polysilicon, ingot or wafer. However, crystalline silicon PV module is produced in India. The share of the Indian modules is about 10 per cent with imports from China constituting about 75 per cent of the Indian solar PV market. The main reason is the cost competitiveness of the Chinese, with the cost of solar modules and cells being 25-50 per cent lower than in India. India imports polysilicon, as well as wafers, and other ingredients such as ethylene vinyl acetate, which adds to the cost of production of modules. Incidentally, the price of solar cells has fallen from 50 cents per kWh to 33 cents per kWh, in three years since 2010, when launch in 2010 of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the target of which was dramatically upgraded in 2014 to 100 GW of solar installations by 2022. In 2016, the WTO ruled against India that the domestic content requirements for solar cells and modules under the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission amounted to trade-related investment measures as they favour domestic products over imported products. The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association have recently had launched an anti-dumping investigation against China, Taiwan, and Malaysia of alleged dumping of 'solar cells whether or not assembled partially or fully in modules or panels or on glass or some other suitable substrates'. China’s top solar module manufacturer, are in talks with India's Essel group to set up a solar module manufacturing facility in India. × It has been debated that Indian solar PV industry should be developed with support from policies of the government like a capital subsidy and lower interest loans. However, the scale of Indian manufacturing is too small (in comparison to China). Four states - Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, account for over three-quarters of today’s installed capacity. Rooftop solar also has the potential to become a more important part of India’s solar portfolio and is being taken up by Indian Railways and on canals as well. One problem that India faces along with the other BRICS countries includes the financing of clean energy. It has been estimated that India might need USD 175 billion in this regard. India has emerged as the second most attractive destination for investment in renewables ahead of the US according to a ranking by Ernst and Young (EY) last year. China is the most attractive destination. The New Development Bank has sanctioned a USD 250 million loan for India to fund its renewable energy. Clearly, more is needed. Chinese firms such as GLC-Poly Energy, China’s top solar module manufacturer, are in talks with India's Essel group to set up a solar module manufacturing facility in India. Cooperation between China and India in this regard could go a long way in achieving the NDC target of both countries.

Cooperation between India and China over the energy sector can keep the earth safe

solar-energy

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