Optimal Solution for Sale of Electricity from a Solar Power Generator in the State of Rajasthan

STATEMENT OF THE PROPOSAL:

1 PROBLEM STATEMENT:

The Problem statement is to find the optimal solution for the sale of Solar Power Generator in the State of Rajasthan

1.1 BACKGROUND:

Power- a special and most convenient form of energy, possessing a unique characteristic which is that cannot be stored. It should be consumed as is being generated and this characteristics lead to simultaneous shortage and excess of availability at different places. Three sectors of the power system include generation, transmission and distribution.

In the Indian Power Sector, accelerating growth and progress have led to extensive use of electricity in all the sectors of the economy. Over the years, since 1950, the installed capacity of power plants has increased from meager 1713 MW to around 1,80,000 MW2. Still the Indian power sector is not able to meet the projected growth due to various bottleneck problems.

1.2 MOTIVATION/NEED FOR RESEARCH:

India has a cumulative power generation capacity of 180.35 GW and faces a deficit of 10.3 % in overall demand and 12.9%4 in peak demand. With an expanding economy, the demand for power is growing at about 6% every year and the peak load is expected to grow more.

India still depends on the Thermal based Energy generation. Among them the Coal plays a major role with 54%2 of the total installed capacity. We all know that burning of coal is one of the major sources of carbon emission. As per the Ministry of Coal, the existing coal reserves estimates will last for another 40-45 years.

Renewable Energy (RE) initiatives began in India in the year 1981. At present, RE power generation capacity is 20,162 MW6, accounting for about 11.17% of India's installed generation capacity of 180.35 GW. Wind power accounts for a major part of the renewable energy capacity in India. Considering the localized potential for wind energy, solar energy is one of the best solutions to meet India's demand for low cost, offgrid solutions in the short to medium term. Considering the life of solar modules of 25 years and the reducing cost of solar panels, solar energy would be competitive for grid connected installations in the long term. As of December 2009, the total solar PV power generation capacity was about 39.66 MW (excluding Offgrid solar PV systems >1 kW of 69 MW)6.

After the implementation of REC in India, the RE generators in India have the different options of sale of renewable power when compared to only option of sale at preferential tariff before the implementation of RECs. So in this research we try to find the optimal solution for the sale of power from the Solar Generator.

1.3 OBJECTIVES:

The scope of the Project is to find an optimal solution for the Solar Power generator in the state of Rajasthan. The main objectives of the research is,

* Solar potential mapping of Rajasthan.

* To analyze the various options available for the Solar Power Sale in India.

* Calculate the cost of production of solar power among the various options of solar power sale in the State of Rajasthan.

* To obtain an Optimal solution of solar power sale in the state of Rajasthan.

1.4 SCOPE OF RESEARCH:

The