Innovators from all around the world have showcased some unimaginable applications of solar energy. From solar roofed bike lanes to solar paints, from solar-powered clothes to solar cars, the energy has been used by creative minds in unfathomable ways. This MYSUN blog series - interesting ways the world is using solar, is an attempt to give a stage to such incredible innovations and thereby spread awareness on the viability of solar energy.

Adding another innovation to the list, here is one more exciting application of solar energy right from the most premium technical institute of India: Solar-powered Pest Control System from IIT Kharagpur.

The Innovation: Solar Powered Pest Control System

Researchers at IIT Kharagpur have developed a self-driven high-performance pest controlling device. Powered by solar energy, the device has been built with the idea of helping marginal farmers spray pest controlling liquid chemicals in agricultural tracks. Packed with the ability to guide safely through the tracks the device is being said to reduce manual labour while providing uniformity in liquid spraying. Masterminding this innovation is Prof. Hifjur Raheman, Anup Behera Rahul K and Prof. P.B.S. Bhadoria.

How does this Solar Powered Pest Control System Work?

Built on a three-wheeler trolley, the solar-powered pest control system has been created with an assembly of a propelling unit, a liquid storage tank, a DC motor operated pump, spray nozzles, a solar-powered battery and a solar panel. The DC motor operated pump pressurizes the liquid to be spread, and multiple nozzles mounted on a boom help the system spray the liquid in a wider width at a time. The solar panel installed on the rooftop of the device creates and supplies the energy required to run and navigate the semi-automated system. An operator is needed to control the movement of the spraying units.

MYSUN’s Take on the Innovation

The development of this device is another testament to the utility of solar energy. It demonstrates how with a little innovation the energy from the sun can be applied to any appliance or technology that we need. The success of innovations like these goes to show the instrumental role solar energy can play in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. It will be interesting to see how this idea scales up and is commercialized. We are sure there are many more innovations coming along the way which will transform the way we consume energy today.

Image Credit: https://kgpchronicle.iitkgp.ac.in/

The 2021 Union Budget was one of the most keenly anticipated budgets in the history of modern India. Read-out in the backdrop of the global pandemic the budget came with high expectations. Some of the major announcements made included - allocation of Rs 35,000 Crores for manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, allocation of Rs 1.97 lakh crores for nurturing of global manufacturing champions to increase jobs for the youth, increase in FDI from 49% to 74% for the insurance industry and a vision to launch 7 more textile parks along with a mega-investment in textile parks within the next 3 years.

Another important announcement was the decision to break the monopoly of the DISCOMs by offering the customers a choice. The Finance Minister was quoted saying, “Distribution companies across the country are monopolies, either government or private. There is a need to provide choice to consumers by promoting competition. A framework will be put in place to give consumers options to choose from among more than one distribution firm”. INR 3.05 trillion has been sanctioned for the DISCOM reforms.

The Announcements Made for the Renewable Energy Industry

For the renewable energy industry, the sanctions announced included a grant of Rs 1500 Crores to Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) and of Rs 1000 Crores to Solar Energy Corporation of India(SECI) for the growth of the renewable and solar energy sector in India. The announcements also included an increase in duty on solar inverters(from 5% to 20%) and solar lanterns(from 5% to 15%) for the encouragement of domestic production.

MYSUN’s Take on the Budget

Riddled with the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns, the growth of the solar industry has seen a slowdown across both the manufacturing and installation categories. As per media reports, the solar installation category alone has seen a drop of 81%, from 1.1 GW in the first quarter of 2020 to 205 MW in the 2nd quarter of 2020.

The increase in duty for solar inverters is likely to increase the cost of solar systems. This new inclusion along with the existing safeguard duty of 14.9% on imported solar modules will make going solar more costly. Furthermore, with no clarity now on how the funds allocated to SECI is going to be used, and levying of the duty on solar batteries in a time when the domestic manufacturing industry is far from being formidable, the budget presented, though good for the overall economy, seems uncertain of bringing significant positive transformations in the solar industry.

Note: This is only an initial reaction to the budget. A more detailed analysis may be published at a later date.