A Review of Solar Energy - Challenges, Economics&Policies in India

In recent years the solar energy technologies has experienced phenomenal growth. The realization of technological improvements, growing public awareness of environmental issues, the economic climate and number of policy instruments have facilitated and sustained this strong interest in these technologies. Solar energy in one form or another is the source of nearly all energy on the earth. Humans, like all other animals and plants, rely on the sun for warmth and food. However, people also harness the sun's energy in many other different ways. For example, fossil fuels, plant matter from a past geological age, is used for transportation and electricity generation and is essentially just stored solar energy from millions of years ago. Solar energy has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years due to both technological improvements resulting in cost reductions and government policies supportive of renewable energy development and utilization. This paper provides an overview on solar energy in India. The paper also focuses on the technical and economical barriers and challenges for development and utilization of solar energy technology.