The US will have solar power contributing more new electricity to its grid than any other form of energy. It has come at a time when the world is combating climate change to the best of its ability. What is likely to be done is provision of zero emission energy without deviating from the goal of power for every home. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has made forecasts which reveal that renewables may surpass coal by the early 2030s. Solar energy is most prominent among the renewables. What is more, its cost is steadily going down. It is no longer necessary to offer large production subsidies which are necessary so far to promote generation of clean energy like solar power. At some big solar installations in the US, solar power costs less than natural gas.
All this is very relevant to India. The Narendra Modi government attaches great importance to solar power. Its National Solar Mission (NSM) provides for subsidy to enable expansion of the roof top solar system. But this system is not merely expensive but also inefficient. Much better are large scale solar installations which feed solar power into the grid. The roof top solar system is necessary only when it has to be operated in locations which are outside the grid. It is also necessary if one wants to generate one’s own solar power. Technological progress should make the roof top system dispensable. If that can be done, solar energy can be competitive with subsidies done away with. The Indian government should take it into consideration while framing its fiscal policy.
