Agriculture in India remains the primary occupation of rural households. Most people in India are taking the availability of electricity for granted. However, electricity access in rural areas around the world is costly and sparse. India is blessed to have a significant potential for solar power as it receives around 200MW/km square of sunlight each day. With around 60% population living in the rural area of the country, the solar sector has a huge market to discover.
Solar energy, as an alternative, provides a cheaper and cleaner alternative in rural areas. It provides the significant benefit of increased availability of renewable power. Currently, more than 1300 solar panels have been successfully installed on the residential and government buildings to power the Modhera village. The best solar system installation in Indian villages is not only decreasing the use of fossil fuels but also producing clean and green energy.
Inspiration from the God Sun
The idea for the solar power project comes from the Sun Temple (Modhera Temple), the Temple of the Sun God. Since this temple is the temple of the God Sun, the complete electricity of the village and the community should be accessed from solar power. The Sun Temple today organizes a 3D light show entirely on solar energy. The parking space also has EV charging stations even the premises of the temple are powered using this renewable source of energy.
First solar-powered village of India
Modhera, home to the centuries-old Sun Temple, is located in Gujarat – the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the aim to power the Sun Temple and the whole Modhera village, the solar project in Modhera is the first of its kind. Rural citizens are encouraged to be independent via green energy.
Gadvi Kailashben, a 42-year-old widow, from Modhera village, uses solar energy. Agriculture is the main source of income for her to take care of her family. The government of India has installed solar panels in her house. Switching to solar energy has provided her great relief from household expenses.
When she used to power her house using traditional electricity, she had to pay around Rs.2,000 utility bills. This electricity bill turned to zero amount after using solar power. Presently, she is not paying even a single penny for the electricity bill. “I save the extra money in my bank account and use it to meet daily expenses and for my children’s education,” said Ms. Kailashben.
Kesa Bhai Prajapati, 68, also resides in Modhera and has increased the amount of earthenware after switching to solar power. Earlier he used to turn the wheel manually because he couldn’t afford the higher utility bill of Rs.1500 per month. Now, he runs his machines on solar power that doesn’t produce expensive electricity bills. Just like him, approximately 6500 residents of Modhera village are powering their homes completely using solar power all the time.
Source of reliable energy
The rural areas in India are highly affected by the unreliable electricity supply. Due to this, most of the rural residents can’t match up with their urban counterparts. Solar panel installation provides a cost-effective and satisfactory solution of it. This energy source can be the answer to the power concerns of the rural population. It provides excellent access to entertainment media like TV or radio. The availability of solar-driven power sources can even improve the overall productivity of rural regions. Solar energy in the coming time is even expected to be the most reliable source of power.
Renewable source of energy
India aims to generate about half of its electricity using renewable sources like wind and solar by the end of 2030. The reason is that India has emerged as the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world. The solar project in Modhera village was financed by the federal and provincial government and its costs approximately €10 million. The project consists of installing more than 1300 rooftop solar panels on government and residential properties that were earlier linked to a power plant.
The leading companies are even providing the best solar system AMC services to let their clients meet their power requirements without worrying about the maintenance of solar panels. The professionals reach your facility to provide the annual maintenance service whenever required to perform essential cleaning and maintenance. The government also purchases additional solar power generated from residents in case they don’t use the whole capacity provided to the households.
Source of employment
Another reason Indian villages are quickly adopting solar energy is that it provides a great source of revenue. Since land is an imperative aspect of solar projects, it can become a valuable means of income generation. The residents can provide their barren lands (which are of no use) to solar developers for lease. This way, rural communities can receive a stream of cash flow without any expensive investment cost.
The development of more solar projects will even create jobs during and post-development stages in the O&M (operation and maintenance) areas. Moreover, it also provides job opportunities to local workers and electricians during the development of solar projects. After the development stage, solar projects can create job opportunities for maintenance-related tasks like security personnel, operators, cleaners, technicians, and gardeners.
Skill development opportunities
Large-scale solar energy projects may require manpower for operation and maintenance tasks. The companies employ semi-skilled or unskilled employees from the local villages. Labors in villages mainly rely on manual work as they lack modern skill sets. Working on the solar project allows laborers to develop new skills and aim for higher income.
Additionally, these projects can lead to several temporary employment opportunities and power various other sectors including carpentry, weaving, agriculture, and pottery. Emergence and investment in these projects are also growing the economic condition of the Indian villages.
If you have any solar power installation questions, get them answered by your local installers. Proper communication can help you with the best solar system installation and get the most out of it.