Feature Article

In May 2011, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented
its report on potential of renewable
energy (RE) which emphasizes
significant future role of RE in cutting
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and
powering sustainable development. A
global team of technological experts and
scientists reviewed over 160 scenarios on
the potential of six RE technologies and
compiled a report entitled ‘Special
Report on Renewable Energy Sources and
Climate Change Mitigation’ (SRREN)
approved by member countries of IPCC.
The present report is a short summary of
approximately 1000-page comprehensive
assessment done by 120 scientists for the
IPCC Working Group III (WGIII)1.
IPCC is the leading international body

In May 2011, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) presented its report on potential of renewable energy (RE) which emphasizes

This work aims to identify the geographic distribution of photovoltaic (PV) energy potential considering the effect of temperature on PV system performance. A simple framework is developed that uses the JIS C 8907 Japanese industrial standard to evaluate the effects of irradiation and temperature on PV potential. The global distributions of PV potential and yearly performance ratio are obtained by this framework. Generally, the performance ratio decreases with latitude because of temperature. However, regions with high altitude have higher performance ratios due to low temperature.

Marking a milestone in renewable energy, Sri Lanka, has commissioned its first solar power plant. It will add 500 kilowatt to the National Grid and generate 2,300 units of electricity daily. The power plant located in Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka will cater to electricity needs of over 3,000 rural families. The annual power generation is expected to be 839,500 kilowatt hours.

In this article, an attempt is made to answer the question: Can renewable energy sources eventually supply India’s electricity needs in the future? The estimates made here indicate that even with a frugal per capita electricity need of 2000 kWh/annum and a stabilized population of 1700 million by 2070, India would need to generate 3400 TWh/yr. As opposed to this, a systematic analysis of the information available on all the renewable energy sources indicates that the total potential is only around 1229 TWh/yr. It is concluded that in the future as fossil fuels are exhausted, renewable

Net metering has become a widespread mechanism in the U.S. for supporting customer adoption of distributed photovoltaics (PV), but has faced challenges as PV installations grow to a larger share of generation in a number of states. This paper examines the value of the bill savings that customers receive under net metering, and the associated role of retail rate design, based on a sample of approximately two hundred residential customers of California's two largest electric utilities.

Small hydropower (SHP) is one of the most common renewable, economic, non-consumptive, non-radioactive, non-polluting and environmentally benign sources of energy. A vast potential of small hydropower is available on canals falls under the range of low head hydropower schemes.

To fight climate change, it is not enough to generate electricity from renewable sources. The grid infrastructure must be enhanced too.

Europe has been at the forefront in the use of solar energy. Experiences of Spain in particular should offer vluable lessons on introducing policy changes for India.