Climate Change And Rooftop Solar In India

India is facing one of its worst summer seasons this year with average temperatures in the 28 degrees Celsius range.  Climate change is very obvious and global warming is playing a huge role in aggravating this situation. Man, for his selfish reasons, has exploited the earth to its utmost, and now when there is literally no time left, everyone is grappling to save Mother Earth.

 There are many reasons for global warming; let’s not get into this as all of us are well versed in the reasons. But what actions can be taken rests with us. The other steps that can be taken to curb climate change, include but are not limited to re-afforestation, mindful construction, checking emission levels of factories and cars, checking one’s carbon footprint, and the use of renewable energy sources, etc.

Renewable energy has been gaining significant traction given its green credentials and reducing costs. However, the pace of development is very slow. Blame it on the COVID-19 pandemic, but a lot of ground-level policy changes still need to be reinforced to reach a significant level of renewable energy resources in the overall national energy mix. There are many achievements that can be lauded like the Delhi Metro now sourcing almost 100% of its power needs solar energy (Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa Solar Plant) and most government schools and offices using solar installations. Other states like Gujarat, Telangana, and Rajasthan are also making notable progress in such installations. However, the major portion of the target can be achieved from rooftop solar installations alone, given the minimal requirement of land and distribution infrastructure as well as a large number of free rooftops available in the country. India has been slow in this regard. The country had an overall rooftop installed capacity of just 6 GW till October 2021 as against its target of achieving 40 GW by 2022. Lack of infrastructural capacity and bureaucratic hurdles are the biggest hurdles for rooftop solar in India.

If only every house could have a rooftop solar installation and every person could drive an electric vehicle in the country, the situation could have been so much better. I know I am thinking too aggressively and change takes time, but every citizen needs to think along these lines to leave a better world behind for the future generation. Today, we are exploiting all natural resources be it land, air, or water, in a way like there is no tomorrow.