Harnessing Solar Energy for Sustainable Development of Livelihoods

Abstract

Solar energy is the most abundant source of renewable energy and can be used for diverse thermal applications and electricity generation. Due to its global availability and ease of harnessing, it is among the most commonly utilized form of renewable energy sources. There exist several ways in harnessing solar energy for end-use. This chapter introduces the concept of harnessing solar energy for various domestic and commercial applications. Traditionally, solar energy has been used for drying and passive heating/cooling. Modern technologies include the development of solar thermal and photovoltaic applications to generate electricity and also thermal power which can be used for desalination, water treatment, and cooking. Policy support along with technological advancements has led to the rapid deployment of solar energy technologies to serve the end-users of all sectors. India is one of the countries which have set an ambitious target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy capacity out of which 100 GW is from solar. Grid and off-grid solar PV-based decentralized microgrids are developing rapidly. Grid-tied inverters are being researched upon to deal with reliability and power quality issues. Also, rooftop solar PV system or home-based systems are commonly being applied for rural electrification purposes because of its simplicity and cost implications. Current chapter primarily focuses on providing holistic applications of the solar energy system and discusses in detail the technical, economic, and environmental impacts of the technologies.