Solar energy is the central pillar of India’s energy transition strategy. Examine the targets, the geography of deployment and the technical bottlenecks.
Subtopic: Economic Geography · Renewable Energy
How to structure your answer
Introduction: India committed at COP-26 (Glasgow, November 2021) to 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and net-zero by 2070. Solar is the principal vehicle.
Body — three dimensions: (1) Targets: Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission 2010 (revised to 100 GW by 2022); installed solar capacity reached 90 GW by early 2024 and is targeted at 280–300 GW of the 500 GW non-fossil portfolio; PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (February 2024) targets one crore rooftop systems. (2) Geography of deployment: Rajasthan (Bhadla Solar Park 2,245 MW — world's largest single site), Gujarat (Khavda Renewable Energy Park, projected 30 GW), Karnataka (Pavagada 2,050 MW), Tamil Nadu (Kamuthi 648 MW). Concentration in Deccan and Thar reflects irradiance >5.5 kWh/sq m/day. (3) Technical bottlenecks: land acquisition (5 acres per MW); grid integration and balancing for variability; import dependence on Chinese modules (mitigated by ALMM and PLI for solar PV manufacturing 2021, 2023); energy storage gap (battery and pumped hydro); transmission constraints (Green Energy Corridor, two phases).
Conclusion: Solar geography rewards Rajasthan-Gujarat-Karnataka triangle; eastern India must build complementary wind and pumped-hydro to ensure energy security across the grid.
Written within the word limit
138 words · target 150 words · 9 min
Introduction: At COP-26 (Glasgow, November 2021) India committed to 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and net-zero by 2070, with solar as the principal vehicle.
Body: The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (2010), revised to 100 GW by 2022, drove installed solar capacity to about 90 GW by early 2024, targeted to reach 280–300 GW within the 500 GW portfolio; PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (February 2024) targets one crore rooftop systems. Deployment concentrates in Rajasthan (Bhadla Solar Park, 2,245 MW — the world's largest single site), Gujarat (Khavda RE Park, projected 30 GW), Karnataka (Pavagada, 2,050 MW) and Tamil Nadu (Kamuthi), where irradiance exceeds 5.5 kWh/sq m/day. Bottlenecks include land (5 acres per MW), grid balancing, import dependence on Chinese modules (offset by ALMM and PLI 2021, 2023), storage and transmission via the Green Energy Corridor.
Conclusion: Rajasthan-Gujarat-Karnataka anchor solar geography; complementary wind and pumped-hydro in eastern India are now essential to grid security.
What an examiner expects to see
- COP-26 commitment — 500 GW non-fossil by 2030, net-zero 2070
- JNNSM 2010, revised 100 GW solar by 2022
- Installed solar 90 GW by early 2024
- Bhadla Solar Park (Rajasthan) — 2,245 MW
- Khavda RE Park (Gujarat) — 30 GW projected
- PM-Surya Ghar Yojana February 2024 — 1 crore rooftops
- Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM)
- PLI for solar PV 2021 and 2023
- Green Energy Corridor Phase I and II
- Solar irradiance over 5.5 kWh/sq m/day in Thar
Concrete cases, schemes and judgments
- Bhadla Solar Park, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
- Pavagada (Karnataka) — 2,050 MW on 13,000 acres
- International Solar Alliance HQ at Gurugram, founded 2015
- PM-KUSUM for solar pumps and feeders
- SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) tenders