Rooftop solar photovoltaic energy: a case study of India

Photovoltaic (PV) devices generate electricity directly from sunlight through an electronic process that occurs naturally in certain types of materials called semiconductors. The electrons in these materials are freed by solar energy and can be induced to travel through an electrical circuit, powering electrical devices or sending electricity to the grid. Rooftop solar PV systems that allow consumers to generate electricity at the point of consumption, and send any excess to the grid, have emerged as an attractive option. This paper discusses the government of India’s demonstration and commitments to rooftop solar PV by setting ambitious targets by 2022. India aims to hit a solar capacity of 100 GW, 40 GW of which is to come from rooftop systems. The state of Karnataka has set an ambitious goal of its own, 400 MW of grid-connected rooftop solar PV by 2018. The Indian rooftop solar PV system could be a model for other developing countries facing energy crises.