Solar Power Would Make So Much More Sense in Countries like India . . .

COurtesy Newsy. I am not sure how Newsy calculates the payoff time for solar PVs, but my guess is that they are taking a 3 hours a day, 250 days a year calculation. Countries like India and it's neighbors that are bathed in sunshine, could easily generate solar power for 325 days a year, and 6 hours a day. At prices now around $0.55 a watt for PVs, and battery prices constantly coming down, it should be possible for sunnier climes to have Energy Payback Times (the time taken for the price of electricity in the market to completely pay off the cost of the solar infrastructure) of less than 24 months, in fact. Train stations and platforms, malls and large office buildings, large apartment complexes etc would be the best places to put PVs up, especially to substitute grid generated power during the daytime. If a 20 to 30% reduction in grid supplied electricity is achieved at heavy use locations, that would reduce the stress on the mainly coal fired powerplants that supply daytime electricity, and bring overall costs down sharply. Someone just needs to do the job.

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.