The Hindu Editorial

Rooftop energy: on boosting solar power

Bengaluru’s aerial mission to produce a three dimensional(आकार/लंबाई चौड़ाई या विस्‍तार संबंधी) map of rooftop solar power potential using Light Detection(खोज/पता चलाना) and Ranging (LIDAR) data can give this key source of power a big boost. Similar mapping exercises have been carried out in several countries over the past few years to assess how much of a city’s power needs can be met through rooftop solar installations. A survey helps determine(निर्धारित/स्थिर करना) usable rooftops(छतों), separating them from green spaces, and analyses the quality of the solar resource. With

steady urbanization(नगरीकरण), solar maps of this kind will help electricity utilities(उपयोगिताओं/लाभ) come up with good business cases and investment vehicles(वाहनों/यातायात-साधन) and give residents an opportunity to become partners in the effort. Aninitiative(पहल/आत्मबल) to rapidly(तेजी से/शीघ्रता से) scale up rooftop solar installations is needed if the target of creating 40 GW of capacity connected to the grid by 2022 is to be realized. Rooftop solar power growth has demonstrated(साबित) an overall positive trend(प्रवृत्ति/झुकाव), including in the fourth quarter of 2017 when tenders for 220 MW represented(प्रतिनिधित्व करना) a doubling of the achievement in the previous quarter. But this will need to be scaled up massively to achieve the national target. Going forward, domestic policy has to evaluate (मूल्यांकन करना/आंकना) the impact of factors such as imposition(आरोपण) of safeguard duty and anti-dumping duty on imports, and levy of the goods and services tax on photo voltaic modules. The industry is apprehensive(भयभीत/समझदार) that the shine could diminish(घटाना/शक्तिहीन करना) for the sector during the current year, unless policy is attuned(अभ्यस्त) to the overall objective of augmenting(बढ़ाना) capacity.

Major solar projects that connect to the grid often face the challenge of land acquisition(लाभ/कमाई) and transmission connectivity. This has led to a delay in planned capacity coming on stream during 2017: nearly 3,600 MW did not get commissioned during the last quarter, out of a scheduled 5,100 MW. What this underscores is the importance of exploiting(शोषण/उपयोग करना)rooftop solar, which represents only about 11% of the country’s 19,516 MW total installed capacity at the start of 2018. The Center should come up with incentives, given the enormous(विशाल/भारी) investment potential(क्षमता/संभावित) waiting to be tapped and the real estate that can be rented. The southern States and Rajasthan together host the bulk(थोक की मेजबानी) of national solar infrastructure on a large scale. With some forward-looking policy making, they can continue to lead by adding rooftop capacity. India, which is a founder-member(संस्थापक सदस्य) of the International Solar Alliance launched in Paris during the climate(जलवायु/मौसम) change conference more than two years ago, must strive(प्रयास करना/झगड़ना) to be a global leader. Initiatives such as the Bengaluru mapping project can contribute to assessments of both real potential and risk. This is crucial(महत्वपूर्ण/निर्णायक) for projects on a large scale involving significant exposure(अनावरण/भंडाफोड़) for financial institutions, including banks. With ongoing improvements to solar cell efficiency and battery technology, rooftops will only get more attractive(आकर्षक)( in the future.

Important Vocabulary

1.dimensional(आकार)
Synonyms: spatial, geographical, geometric. structural

2.Rapidly(तेजी से)
Synonyms: briskly, expeditiously, fast, immediately, promptly
Antonyms: slowly, sluggishly, leisurely

3.Imposition(आरोपण)
Synonyms: artifice, cheating, con, craftiness, dissimulation
Antonyms: frankness, honesty, reality, sincerity, truth

4.Augmenting(बढ़ाना)
Synonyms: add to, amplify, boost, build up, develop
Antonyms: abridge, compress, condense, contract, curtail

5.Acquisition(लाभ/कमाई)
Synonyms: addition, gain, procurement, purchase, recovery
Antonyms: loss, failure, forfeit, surrender, dearth

6.Enormous(विशाल)
Synonyms: colossal, excessive, gargantuan, gigantic, huge
Antonyms: common, insignificant, little, miniature, miniscule

7.Strive(प्रयास करना/झगड़ना)
Synonyms: aim, endeavorstargo, seekstartackle, assay, attempt,
Antonyms: neglect, agree, discourage, dissuade, idle,