Introduction

The sun has produced energy for billions of years. It is the most important source of energy for life forms. It is a renewable source of energy unlike non- renewable sources such as fossil fuels. Solar energy technologies use the sun's energy to light homes, produce hot water, heat homes and electricity.

Solar power is the future of energy production. The consumption of non-renewable energy such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is unsustainable, and solar offers an alternative

Basics

• Solar power uses the natural energy of the sun to produce electricity. It is sustainable and renewable.
• Every square meter of our planet receives around 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation.
• Coal plants are the largest producers of carbon emissions, which contributes to global warming. Solar power serves as an alternative to non-renewable resources like coal.
• You can use solar power to heat water for your home.Solar power does not create any noise pollution.
• You can use a battery as backup for your solar system, giving you a supply of electricity even on days when your home doesn't get as much radiation from the sun. However, most modern solar systems use net metering, which is easier than storing excess energy in batteries.
• In America, one solar panel system is installed every four minutes.
• NASA is currently working on a solar-powered aircraft.
• Solar power produces no pollution, which is a by-product of non-renewable energy consumption and one of the biggest global killers. It affects as many people as HIV or malaria and has a serious effect on children, whose bodies are often more vulnerable than those of adults.
• China is the world's leading solar producer and seeks to triple its capacity by 2020. These goals are largely tied to the fact that China's air pollution makes it almost impossible for citizens to breathe in cities like Shanghai and Beijing.

Fun Facts: Solar Energy

The Solar City Tower is being constructed for the Brazil 2016 Olympics. At 100 meters tall, it will provide enough solar energy to power the Olympic Village and Olympic venues all day long. Most TV and communication satellites are powered by solar energy from photovoltaic cells. The amount of solar energy that hits the earth in one minute meets the world's energy needs for one year.

Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on earth with 173,000 terawatts of solar energy striking the Earth continuously. That amounts to more than 10,000 times the world's total energy use. Space missions use solar energy to power spaceships. The largest solar power plant in the world is located in the Mojave Desert in California, covering 1000 acres. Solar power is noise-pollution free. In certain areas, 60 to 70% of water used domestically for temperatures as high as 60 degree Celsius can be made available by solar heating.

7 Reasons Why You Should Use Solar Power

This is why you should start saving up for solar panels!

Of course there is a lot of reasons why we all should convert to using solar power instead of fossil fuels, but can you actually articulate them? If not, you get the seven main reasons why you should switch to solar power right away, right here!

1. Solar Power Is Good for the Environment - And Us!

The most common known benefit concerning solar power is, that it is a clean, green source of energy,that pollutes less than almost every other source of energy. Solar power doesn't produce greenhouse gasses and it doesn't pollute water or any other part of nature. Other than that, solar power is almost self sufficient, and only requires a little water to work.

2. Solar Power Makes You Independent of Electricity Prices

The price for electricity usually differs through the day, being more expensive in the middle of the day and in the early evening. Because power plants create a relatively steady output of electricity, the prices rise and fall throughout the day, based on the beforementioned change in demand. With solar power, you can avoid this rise in price, and get cheap energy all day.

3. Solar Power Causes Use for Underutilized Land

Most countries have a lot of land, particularly away from the big cities and capitals, which is used for nothing. With solar power, we can actually make use of this underutilized land, while we generate great value. In this way we don't have to use spaces, that are more appropriate for other things

4. Solar Power Causes Less Electricity Loss

The longer energy has to be transported, the more energy is wasted on the way. If you have your source of energy on your roof, you (and the rest of us) will lose a lot less energy, than we do right now.

5. Solar Power Improves Grid Security

When we have a lot of people generating energy with solar power, we are less likely to experience blackouts. Each house with solar cells on it, functions as a small power plant, which provides us with a great grid security, in cause of human-caused or natural disasters.

6. Solar Power Is Domestic

When you use coal, oil, or natural gasses to generate your electricity, you usually make use of energy from another part of the world. If you would like to benefit your national economy, it is a good idea to use solar power, because electricity from your own solar panels are domestic.

7. Solar Power Creates Jobs and Economic Growth

The most of the costs towards solar power comes from the installment of solar panels and solar cells, and it is that money, that pay for other peoples salaries. The more people who choose to make use of solar power, the more people we need to install and maintain the solar panels, which helps our mutual national economy.

Great Reasons to Use Solar Power and Solar Lighting -

Ever wonder why solar is a great alternative to standard grid electric? Let's look at 13 great reasons to use solar power and solar lighting systems over traditional electric.

1. Green - Solar is green. Green is the new black. Enough said. Green energy is totally the new rage, but it is also a way to look out for the future of our planet and reduce our impact.

2. Renewable - Solar is a renewable energy source. The sun is always present and even the cloudiest days, there is a bit of insolation available for the solar panels to soak up.

3. Available Anywher - Solar can be installed anywhere, even when what it is powering is in the shade. No matter what the circumstance, if there is a sunny spot nearby the solar can be installed to power something remotely installed. There is even technology today turning roofing or windows into photovoltaic sources.

4. Durable - A silicon wafer is not durable itself, but stick it behind some glass and you have the making for something that can withstand a lot more of the elements. Best of all, as technology increases, the durability of the glass increases; check out SolarWorld's Indestructable Panels. Other protection, such as protective panel backs, can be used to increase the durability of free standing solar power systems.

5. Eco-Friendly - No harmful gases come from a solar panel.

6. Cost Savings - Solar provides cost savings by not having to pay for electricity, especially since electric costs continue to rise where the cost of solar continues to fall. Cost savings also can be calculated by eliminating the need to trench in grid power, disturbing surrounding landscapes and hardscapes, repairing areas, etc.

7. Easy Installation - Solar panels are easy to install, typically only needing a few bolts to hold them secure and some basic wiring. Solar lighting systems provide the solar power system at the top of the pole for most installation configurations, leaving all important electrical material at the top of the pole. Solar power systems can require a bit more for a simple installation; however, the low voltage DC power is much safer to work with than standard electric.

8. Low Voltage - Solar utilizes lower voltage, typically 12 or 24 Volts DC, which means safer usage and installation.

9. Energy Savings - Solar utilizes lower powered items such as LED / CFL lamps, lower powered electronics, etc. that do not use as much power as standard electric systems. Also, LEDs are powered from 12 VDC initially and require AC adapters to power with standard electric. By using DC power for LEDs, they are able to operate more efficiently by providing more light and less heat.

10. No Trenching - Got a parking lot that needs lighting but the cement has already been poured? Need to put in a camera that is across the road from power lines? That's fine with solar since each system stands alone and can be mounted anywhere (see No. 3). Oh, and did we mention the cost savings since you don't have to tear up that existing hardscape and then repair it (see No. 6)?

11. Battery Backup - Most solar systems today utilize a battery backup that allows for three plus days storage of the power needed to keep the system running (the best systems offer a minimum of five nights autonomy). That way, if the sun goes out, you will still have power for a couple days. Let's just hope the sun comes back on soon

12. Dark Sky and Wildlife Friendly Compliant Fixture - Since solar lights utilize lower Lumens per Watt they comply with dark sky lighting laws when used with full cutoff fixtures. Turtle friendly lights can also be powered by solar power systems since LEDs are available in the spectrum of color that does not affect the surrounding wildlife such as sea turtles.

13. Tax Credits / Grants - Who would've guessed, but the government wants you to be green. They are providing tax credits and grants to help with the purchase of solar, any renewable energy for that matter. So if Uncle Sam wants you to use solar it's a good idea. Just be aware, the Federal Tax Credit does expire and is currently set to expire at the end of this year, so you need to hurry to take advantage of it.

• India has the fifth largest power generation portfolio in the world and its current renewable energy contribution stands at 44.812 GW which includes 27.441 GW of Wind power and 8.062 GW of Solar power installed capacity in the country. (As on 31.07.2016).
• Fourth largest installed capacity of wind power.
• Third largest installed capacity of concentrated solar power (CSP)
• Renewable energy contributes 14.7% of the total installed capacity in the country as on 31.07.2016.
• Ambitious target of 175 GW of renewable power by 2022 which will include 100 GW of Solar power, 60 GW from wind power, 10 GW from biomass power and 5 GW from small hydro power.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

KEY PROVISIONS IN BUDGET 2016-17:

Full exemption on excise duty is being provided on Pig Iron (SG grade) and ferro-silicon-magnesium for use in the manufacture of cast components of wind-operated electricity generators.

The excise duty on solar water heater and system is restructured from 12% to NIL without CENVAT credit or 12.5% with CENVAT credit.

Full exemption on excise duty is being provided on round copper wire and tin alloys for use in the manufacture of solar PV ribbon for manufacture of solar PV cells.

Full exemption from basic customs duty (BCD) is being provided on evacuated tubes with three tyres of solar selective coating for use in the manufacture of solar water heater and system.

Incentives offered by Government for the development of the Solar Energy sector include: