A Review on India’s Solar Energy Prospective: Potential, Environmental Protection and Policies Framework

Solar energy is the primary source of energy. The conversion and consumption of this energy happen in several ways in the ecosystem. It also produces other renewable resources including biomass and wind energy. The novel solar energy innovations offer a remarkable chance to lessening of ozone-depleting substance discharge. Also, by subbing the conventional energy sources, it decreases an unnatural weather change. In this paper, firstly to develop an addressable approach about uncertainty in India’s energy and emission future, the CO 2 emission trend until 2020 has been presented. Secondly, the measures (both regulatory and financial) such as Perform Achieve and Trade, Carbon Tax, Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat Mission undertaken by Govt of India (GOI) to promote green and clean energy are included. Further, the effects of climate change are also identified in this article. A comparative analysis is also discussed on all other green technologies. Moreover, the GOI’s solar power programmes are then discussed accordingly with a list of government institutions, combined with their targets. GOI’s initiative is pictorially represented in the form of a large capacity solar park. In this article, a list of useful software for designing and analysis of solar PV with their specifications is included. This paper further addresses the benefits and limitations of solar energy technology from a scientific and economical viewpoint. In order to highlight the financial benefits of the solar power plant, an analysis report of 125 kWp solar power plants is included for potential readers. This analysis revealed a 5 years payback period. After 5 years of successful operation, the system will become free from all economical liabilities such as loan and interest. The article includes the effectiveness of CO 2 reduction strategies and solar energy supremacy for sustainable development. This review article on solar energy will help policymakers and other stakeholders to understand the status and challenges in India for better solar power planning and management.