Future of Solar trees in doubling farmer’s income

Future of Solar trees in doubling farmer’s income

GS: 3

 

In News:

• As per the survey conducted by ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations), solar trees can be helpful in doubling farmers income by 2022.

ABOUT ICRIER: Established in August 1981, ICRIER is an autonomous, policy-oriented, not-for-profit, economic policy think tank.  ICRIER’s main focus is to enhance the knowledge content of policy making by undertaking analytical research that is targeted at informing India’s policy makers and also at improving the interface with the global economy.

 

Context:

• The survey found that this practice is being done in many countries such as Japan, China and Germany.
• The government has set a target of producing 100GW of solar power by 2022.
• The government wants country to be one of the frontrunners in the International Solar Alliance for clean energy. 
• Indian government aims at doubling farmer’s income by 2022. However, it is almost impossible to attain this goal by 2022 with the set of policies that the government has adopted.
• Recently,  Parliament the Minister of State for agriculture admitted that the existing set of policies cannot DFI by 2022
• So, Solar power seems to be the only option to achieve the target of doubling farmers income

What is a Solar Tree?

• A solar tree is a structure incorporating solar energy technology on a single pillar, like a tree trunk.
• It may be a solar artwork or a functional power generator
• These are made of metal structure and have solar panels at the top instead of branches of real tree.
• Solar energy is collected by Solar panel and converts it into electricity and uses it for batteries, charging of mobile phones, portable computers and tablets.
• No. of solar panels are used to give the shape of a tree and arranged in a tall tower/pole.
• It is facilitated with water sprinkler at the top for self-cleaning of panels, that increases the efficiency of the solar panels. 
• It has a battery back-up of 2 hours on full load, hence giving light even after sunset. 

 

 

 

How solar panels work?

 

Benefits of solar trees:

• Reduces land requirement: The Solar Power Tree harnesses solar energy for producing electricity with an innovative vertical arrangement of solar cells. It thus reduces the requirement of land as compared to conventional Solar Photovoltaic layout.
• Viable for both rural and urban areas: Even the cultivable land can be utilized for solar energy harnessing along with farming at the same time. The innovation finds its viability both in rural and urban areas. 
• Address increasing demand for Green Energy: Solar Power Tree innovatively addresses the challenge of increasing demand for Green Energy by gainfully utilizing scarce land resources in the country.
• More sunrays: By holding the photovoltaic panels at a higher height, on an average it gets more sunrays for one hour in a day. It can harness up to 10-15% more power in comparison to a conventional layout on ground
• Without power cut: Project can be very useful and can provide electricity without any power cut problem.
• Solar technology: Solar trees may build awareness and interest in solar technology and also provide shade and meeting places.

• More power generation: The power generated under this variant is multiple times more than that produced under the first variant, and, therefore, the income augmentation can also be several times more.
• Not compromise with productivity: It does not impact their productivity as there is ample sunlight coming from the sides for the crops to perform photosynthesis. In one acre, you can have 500 solar trees in a such a manner that even tractors can move through them and farmers can keep growing their normal crops.
• Efficient Energy Generation: Solar Tree can generate energy very efficiently. Solar Trees are efficient for capturing energy from sunlight and wind for producing energy as plants in nature.
• Collection of Energy from Wind: Solar Tree with flexible stem rotating in any direction and by shaking themselves is able to produce energy also from wind like a natural tree.
• Environmental friendly: Solar energy is environmental friendly and is beneficial for developed countries where the demand of energy is high and they don’t have sufficient space to producing energy.

 

 

Need of solar energy Energy security: India energy demands is largely fulfilled by non-renewable source of energy The scarcity of these fossil resources stresses the need for renewable energy sources Abundance of solar energy can fulfill India clean energy demands. India is dependent on imports to fulfill its energy demands, thereby incurring hug expenditure and uncertainty with regards to energy security. Economic development: India being a developing economy needs proper electricity for industrial growth and agriculture. India also needs self sufficiency and minimal cost in power generation, assured regular supply, which will boost industries and economy. Social development:  The problem of power cuts and unavailability of electricity especially in rural area, leads to improper human development. Mostly energy demands are fulfilled by subsidised kerosene, leading to loss for exchequer. Environment concern: India’s large part of energy demand is fulfilled by thermal energy largely dependent on fossil fuels. It also causes environment pollution Solar energy is clean form of energy resource, which can be a substitute.

 

How it can Double the Farmer’s income?

• More inclusive: This model will be much more inclusive and can help augment farmers’ incomes significantly. There are two variants of this:

• replace all pump sets, especially diesel ones, with solar pumps and the excess power generated through solar panels can be purchased by the state government at a price that gives farmers a good margin over their cost of producing solar power
• Encourage farmers to grow “solar trees” on their lands, to the height of about 10-12 feet, in a manner that enough sunlight keeps coming to plants below. 

• Under the second variant, farmers can keep growing two irrigated crops as they have been doing, but the solar trees generate a lot of excess power that can be purchased by the state government.
• The economic calculations suggested that farmers can be given one lakh/acre per annum as net income, with 6% increase every year for the next 25 years.
• Power consumption per hectare in Indian agriculture is still very low. The farmers can sell the excess of solar energy generated to the state governments to earn a fixed source of income.

 

Hurdles:

• Mobilizing enough capital to install these solar trees.
• The state should be ready to do the power purchase agreement.
• Land availability in India for solar plant is less due to high population density.
• India is facing challenge to balance Prioritizing domestic goals and WTO commitments.
• India’s solar waste is estimated to be around 1.8 million by 2050 also needs to be tackled.
• Indian domestic manufacturers aren’t technically and economically strong to compete with Chinese companies.
• The dumping of products is leading to profit erosion of local manufacturers.

 

Way ahead:

• Solar energy for producing electricity with an innovative vertical arrangement of solar cells.
• India's solar waste is estimated to be around 1.8 million by 2050 needs to be tackled.
• There should be proper Land availability in India for solar plant
• India’s domestic manufactures need to be technically and economically strong to compete with Chinese companies.
• Establishment of more solar parks and ultra major solar power project and enhancing grid connectivity infrastructure.
• Proper implementation of major programmes of the government such as National Solar to promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India's energy security challenge.

 

Conclusion:

India being a developing country and highly populated requires a power plant where maximum energy can be generated by using minimum land. Therefore, we must try to produce energy from sun by using solar tree in our country to increase our per capita land and fulfill the growing energy demand and doubling farmer’s income by 2022.

 

Source)

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-farmers-solar-energy-doubling-farmers-incomes-5878303/

https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/why-solar-power-is-the-only-option-to-double-farmers-income/1665957/