Solar tech research inconsistent with industries needs

A Survey conducted by the Gujarat Technological University Innovation Council on researches being conducted by academic institutes on solar technology

A Survey conducted by the Gujarat Technological University Innovation Council on researches being conducted by academic institutes on solar technology,has revealed that the researches are incompatible with the demands of the industry.

According to GTU Vice-Chancellor Akshai Aggarwal,Indias climatic conditions favour solar thermal innovations but most of the academic institutions spend their entire energy and resources on carrying out researches on photovoltaic (PV) system,which is best suited for countries in Europe and America where the average temperature is around 25 degrees. He said that academia in European and American countries as well as Japan focuses mostly on researches on PV technologies because it is the most efficient system of generating solar power under their own specific climatic conditions.

The GTUIC survey indicates that 73 per cent of industries,particularly SMEs, favoured solar thermal technology and hardly 20 per cent favoured PV technology.

The survey,according to Aggarwals colleague Hiramay Mahanta,covered industries in 21 states and various institutes including IIT-Bombay. Mahanta said solar thermal technology depends on the intensity of solar heat which is very high in India and available around 300 to 330 days in a year and it is favoured by industries because of its efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Mahanta said that the inconsistency in researches on solar technology was due to the lack of interaction and coordination between institutes and industries. He said,Consultation with industries is a must before proceeding researches otherwise entire exercise will go waste if it is not useful for industries.

Regal Patel,owner of a private company- Royal Solar- engaged in solar technologies for the last two decades,said solar thermal technology is far ahead of PV technology. Patel said investors preferred PV systems due to the lack of sufficient human resources for solar thermal technology.

The state government has also signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy 958 MW of solar power from the companies setting up solar power units in north Gujarat.

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