ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) state that India has pledged to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. The 500 GW goal would not be achievable with the current rate of solar PV development. The emphasis needs to be moved to New and Innovative Solar PV applications (NISAs) that require minimal space for installation, as land availability is becoming a crucial consideration for Solar PV installation. NISAs consist of Floating PV, Road/Rail integrated PV, Canal top PV, Building integrated PV, Agri-photovoltaics, and Urban photovoltaics.
Solar energy has become one of the leading renewable energy sources in the search for clean and sustainable energy solutions. Although conventional land-based solar photovoltaic (PV) plants have demonstrated efficiency in producing power, there is an increasing need to investigate New and Innovative Solar Applications (NISA) that have unique benefits. Specifically, the idea of dual-use or land-neutral applications has become immensely popular. This strategy uses unconventional areas or integrates solar panels with current infrastructure to make the most use of the land that is available. We can address environmental issues, lessen land use conflicts, and improve overall efficiency and sustainability in the solar energy industry by utilizing these alternate uses in addition to overcoming the constraints of land availability.
Floating Photovoltaics (FPV) is one of the technologies that NISAs are embracing the fastest, and it has undergone a rapid global change. Furthermore, FPV technology is rapidly scaling up and becoming more competitive in the market, as seen by the numerous regions that have already adopted large-scale FPV projects. The idea of FPV is presented in Part (I) of this document. As a technology, FPV refers to PV power plants with modules installed on floating substructures on floating or standing bodies of water or the ocean. The system is secured to the water's bottom or shore.
Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is an innovative way to incorporate renewable energy into structures and assist in reducing excessive grid energy use. Even though this technology is costly as compared with the other NISA technologies, it offers several advantages like reduced energy bills, energy efficiency enhancement and carbon footprint reduction. Apart from that, it also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the buildings when incorporated into existing building structures. This is because it can be easily blended into the building’s existing structure rather than being a noticeable extra structural extension. The idea of BIPV is presented in Part (II) of this document.
This study discusses FPV & BIPV and highlights India's overall potential evaluation, business models, implementation strategies, important technical, policy, and market enablers, and the financing requirements needed to support the country's renewable acceleration.
