A Very Ambitious Plan, But Go For It, India!

Courtesy Greentech Solar. The setting of annual targets for a 100 GW solar mission for the future, is a superb way to go. If the target is matched, it would be something to be proud of. if it is exceeded, then it would be even better. And, if installed capacities fall short of the targets, they will offer insights into how to overcome whatever deficiencies there are. Go for it, India. Keep Indians' money in the country instead of sending it to the Gulf for crude and gas, or to Indonesia for coal.

Popular Mechanics Endorses India's "Solar Canals"

They've been discussed extensively in the Indian media, but we now have a prominent US magazine discussing solar canals. The state of Gujarat is a dry and water starved state, with much of it desert. The Sun Edison engineered canals have the dual advantage of generating clean electricity while shielding the meager water resources of the state from evaporation. A simple, and yet sophisticated and effective idea.

Energy Positive House Developed in wales Has Strong Potential for India

Gizmag has this article about a Welsh University's design for a home that generates more electricity than it uses. A series of row houses to this design feeding surplus electricity into Tesla batteries or into the grid for common area use in a community, would be a superb idea for countries like India. I am assuming that the energy surplus capabilities of this house are achieved with 3 hours of sunlight a day, for 300 days a year, a standard for countries in the North. Move southwards to warmer climes like in India, and you can think of much more sunlight to convert, for approximately 6 hours a day, 325 plus days a year. This means that the concept would be much more viable there. I hope some entrepreneur is seriously looking at this. A lot of Indian engineering students go to the UK to study - there might even be some students in Cardiff. Hopefully, this strikes someone's eye. Or, perhaps, tesla could consider getting into this business.

An Ancient Indian Rainwater Collection System That Could be Revived

No Tech Magazine has this excellent article that should be of immense value as India struggles to cope with alternating dry spells and occasional very heavy rain on its coasts. Water Johads were the method of water storage before colonial rule, and they might be considered along with other rainwater harvesting methods being introduced these days. If they worked for thousands of years before the British came to India, there is no reason why they should not work now. Do follow No Tech Magazine and its associated Low Tech Magazine from the link above. There are amazing ideas to be gained from reading these fantastic publications.

Tie Up With the UK and Use This Technology for Public Transport, India

A British bus powered by Biomethane made from cowdung, has set a world speed record for buses. Biomethane can also be produced from sewage. India needs to look hard at this technology and use it for public transport in the country, to offset the import costs of diesel and crude.

Excellent Article in swarajya Magazine on the New Tesla Storage Systems

Please check this article out. The writer deserves kudos for writing the first really good article on solar tech from an Indian perspective. I would add that for large buildings including malls, hotels, software development centers etc, this might be even more economical even at current costs, if you take the problem of power cuts and the cost of using diesel generators into consideration. Let us always keep in mind that US and European calculation of generation and storage system costs consider 3 hours (average) of sunlight a day for 300 days a year. India easily enjoys twice that much sunlight, for 325 days a year. I know that Prime Minister Modi is a solar energy enthusiast. I hope he reads and enjoys this article, before calling for an expansion of his already excellent solar energy plans.

Koyambedu Biogas Plant - Well Done, India!

The Koyambedu Wholesale Market is not far from the apartment where I last lived in India, before I moved to the US. I remember riding past the site regularly, long before construction even started, as well as buying groceries farmer-direct after it opened, at hugely discounted prices over retail markets in Vadapalani, T. Nagar, and other parts of Chennai. Now, the waste from Koyambedu will be processed into Syngas, which would be supplied to homes in the fast growing neighborhood. I sincerely hope that this is a trend. Using waste productively, is a great way for poor nations like India to save money. The added bonus of keeping the streets cleaner, would be the icing on the cake. Well done! Hope other cities and markets in the country follow this example!

Solar Power is Now at a Price Advantage When Compared to Fossil Fuels

This report comes via hard nosed Morgan Stanley Economists, not wide-eyed green energy enthusiasts. And, a report that shows that solar power could be economical even in a market like the US, where the Northern states would get an average of 3 to 4 hours of sunlight a day for 300 days a year, it would be vastly more economical in markets like India where the country receives sunlight for more than 6 hours a day, for 325 + days a year, across the country, on average. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a solar energy enthusiast. I hope he is encouraged even more in his efforts by this report.