Why in News
The quantity of solar radiation available that can be economically converted by solar panels to electricity is showing an “alarming decreasing trend” in several locations in India, says an analysis by scientists at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and published this month in the organisation’s in-house scientific journal Mausam
Reasons
Increased aerosol load — fine particles from carbon emissions, fossil fuel burning and dust — and clouding are said to be causative factors
Aerosols absorb the sunlight and deflect it away from the ground and they can also precipitate the formation of dense clouds that again block sunlight.
The efficiency of solar panels are significantly influenced by the amount of sunlight falling on them.
Indian solar capacity
India’s largest solar parks are located in the north-west of the country, particularly Gujarat and Rajasthan, and cities in both these States are also showing a decrease in solar photovoltaic (SPV) potential.
As of today, India’s installed solar power capacity is about 81 GW, or roughly 17% of the total installed electricity
India has ambitious plans of sourcing about 500 GW(of at least 280 GW from solar power), nearly half its requirement of electricity, from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
Aerosol
An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in air or another gas.
Aerosols can be generated from natural or human causes.
The term aerosol commonly refers to the mixture of particulates in air, and not to the particulate matter alone.
Examples of natural aerosols are fog, mist or dust.
Examples of human caused aerosols include particulate air pollutants, mist from the discharge at hydroelectric dams, irrigation mist, perfume from atomizers, smoke, dust, sprayed pesticides, and medical treatments for respiratory illnesses.
The liquid or solid particles in an aerosol have diameters typically less than 1 Ξm.
Larger particles with a significant settling speed make the mixture a suspension
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