The world's two largest democracies -- the U.S. and India -- share one thing in common, the SUN. And, both countries are blessed with lots of sunshine.

The U.S. is fortunate to receive more than 4,500 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of solar radiation a year. In terms of total or global radiation on a horizontal surface, the Northern States of America receives sunlight on a daily average over the year equivalent to about 385 W/m2 or 1220 Btu/ft2 and 5.0 GJ/m2 (annual) and the Southern States in the range of 580 w/m2; 1840 Btu/ft2 and 5.6 GJ/m2 (annual).

India is most fortunate as it receives the highest global solar radiation on a horizontal surface. India receives on a daily average over the year of 520-630 W/m2; 1660-1990 Btu/ft2 and 6.8-8.3 GJ/m2 annually. The solar energy falling each year on each acre of land in India equals to energy obtained by burning efficiently more than 1,000 tons of coal.

According to solar energy experts, the Southern States of the USA, India, Pakistan, the Mediterranean countries, South-East Africa and Australia have considerable scope for solar energy production.

The U.S. is endowed with a vast resource. At least 250,000 square miles of land in the Southwest of the country alone are suitable for constructing solar power plants. Converting only 2.5% of that radiation into electricity would match the nation's total energy consumption three years ago.

The energy in sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. The main factors which influence the quantities of radiation received by a horizontal surface at ground level are the position of the Sun in altitude and azimuth (the angle measured at any given point on the Earth's surface between the horizontal component of the sun's rays and the meridian passing through that point -- azimuth angle is usually measured in degrees east (morning) and degrees west (afternoon) of a meridian). Most important meteorological stations record sun radiation in terms of the total or global radiation received by a horizontal surface as measured by a thermo-pile type radiometer. The alternative practice of estimating solar radiation in terms of sunshine hours has been found neither satisfactory nor scientifically accurate.

It is estimated that over the next 20 years, the world will become increasingly dependent on electricity to meet its energy needs. Electricity is expected to remain the fastest-growing form of end-use energy worldwide through 2030, as it has been over the past several decades. Nearly one-half of the projected increase in energy consumption worldwide from 2010 to 2030 is attributed to electricity generation. World net electricity generation is expected to grow from 17.3 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2005 to 24.4 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2015 and 33.3 trillion kilowatt-hours in 2030.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has estimated that nearly 32% of the population in the developing non-OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, excluding non-OECD Europe and Eurasia, do not yet have access to electricity -- a total of about 1.6 billion people. With the strong economic growth projected for the developing non-OECD nations, substantial increases in electricity generation will be needed to meet demand in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

To meet some of our electricity requirements, renewable energy sources can help to certain extent. Readers of advertisements or writers of technical papers may be forgiven for thinking that man's endeavors towards harnessing the Sun's energy were born in the agitation and wake of the lingering predictions of approaching fuel shortages and ever-escalating prices. Such views ignore the long record of progressive achievements in this field by many distinguished scientists like Joseph Priestley, Lavoisier (1774) and others to our present-day researches and developments.

Every two days, the Sun showers the Earth with energy equivalent to all the known reserves of stored fuel on Earth. Mankind owes its present relatively comfortable standard of life and the expectations of further advancement in this hitherto abundant and readily accessible store of fuel.

Around the world, nuclear generation is attracting new interest as countries look to increase the diversity of their energy supplies, improve energy security, and provide a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels. For instance, each of the world's three largest coal-consuming nations (the United States, India and China) is projected to expand nuclear capacity significantly over the next 20 years. The nuclear power profile was raised further at the December 2007, 'United Nations Climate Change Conference' in Bali, when International Energy Agency Director Nobuo Tanaka suggested that nuclear power would have to be part of the solution to "stabilize and reduce man-made emissions in the foreseeable future."

Still, there are barriers to the nuclear power option, including public concerns about plant safety, disposal of radioactive waste, and nuclear weapons proliferation -- not to mention the relatively high capital and maintenance costs of nuclear plants. Even if safety, health, and political concerns were answered sufficiently to allow new nuclear plants to be built, the escalating expense of building them (particularly, in comparison with capital costs for other plant types) could prevent them from being constructed. The costs of commodities such as iron, steel, cement, and concrete, as well as the capital costs of energy equipment and facilities, all have increased substantially in the past few years; and because nuclear plants tend to be more capital intensive than fossil fuel generators, these cost increases tended to make nuclear power less competitive despite the recent surge in fossil fuel prices.

In at least three countries -- the United States, India and China -- nuclear power currently is positioned for strong growth. Although China has the youngest nuclear power program of the three nations (its first nuclear power plant began operating in 1991), it is expected to add a net 45 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2030. China's nuclear electricity generation is expected to increase from 50 billion kilowatt-hours in 2005 to 410 billion kilowatt-hours in 2030, an average annual growth rate of 8.8 %. India is projected to add 17 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity and increase production by 9.4 % annually.

The United States is projected to add 16.6 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity and 2.7 gigawatts of capacity in the form of upgrades to existing plants. Those increases are partially offset, however, by the anticipated retirement of several older reactors.

The electricity generation from hydroelectric and other renewable energy resources is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 1.8 % from 2005 to 2030. High prices for oil and natural gas, which are expected to persist also encourage expanded use of renewable fuels. Renewable energy sources are attractive for environmental reasons, especially in countries where reducing greenhouse gas emissions is of particular concern. Government policies and incentives to increase the use of renewable energy sources for electricity generation are expected to encourage the development of renewable energy even when it cannot compete.

According to the International Energy Organization (IEO) non-marketed (noncommercial) bio-fuels from plant and animal sources are an important source of energy, particularly in non-OECD economies, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) has estimated that some 2.5 billion people in developing countries depend on traditional biomass as their main fuel for cooking.

India, one of the world's fastest-developing countries, currently has no electric grid to connect 400 million people who have no access to electricity. With about 301 clear, sunny days a year, solar power stands to become the predominant energy source for the nation, which is currently exploring ways to deal with its energy shortage.

India has tremendous potentialities to harness the much-needed energy from renewable sources and considered as one of the ideal investment destinations for renewable energy equipment manufacturers and service providers. India could become top player in world's solar market. Considering the huge business opportunities in India, an International trade mission under the aegis of SolarPlaza, a world leader in connecting solar industry members, led an international trade mission to India in last February.

Indian government is currently envisaging large-scale expansion of solar power capacity by 2020. The government is gearing up to provide 20 million un-reached rural households to access light energy. In addition, the government plans 20 million sqm. to be built up for green buildings and 20 million sqm. for heating applications by 2020.

According to U.S. government's 'Solar Grand Plan' it is predicted that by 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve this, the U.S. federal government would have to invest more than $400 billion over the next 40 years to complete the 2050 plan.

In the past few years the cost to produce photovoltaic cells and modules has dropped significantly, opening the way for large-scale deployment. Various cell types exist, but the least expensive modules today are thin films made of cadmium telluride.

To provide electricity at six cents per kWh by 2020, cadmium telluride modules would have to convert electricity with 14% efficiency, and systems would have to be installed at $1.20 per watt of capacity. Current modules have 10% efficiency and an installed system cost of about $4 per watt. Progress is clearly needed, but the technology is advancing quickly; commercial efficiencies have risen from 9 to 10% in the past one year. It is worth noting, too, that as modules improve, rooftop photo-voltaics will become more cost-competitive for homeowners, reducing daytime electricity demand.

Although the US has been India's largest partner for trade, investment and technology since India's Independence, the two countries must now work towards strengthening commercial ties. The bilateral trade between India and the US could increase eight fold to $320 billion in 2018 from $42 billion in 2007-08.

India can be the hub for manufacturing renewable energy equipment if U.S. manufacturers come forward to manufacture their products in India by way of joint ventures, technology transfer and exports as India has a tremendous manpower available at very economical costs.

U.S. looking towards India for renewable energy partnership

It is heartening to observe that the U.S. President Barack Obama is keen on India and the United States building a 'renewable energy partnership' as they could work together to find solutions to climate change issues as there was great potential of cooperation between the two sides as they look for what other ways they can collaborate in addition to things they were already doing together.

The Obama Administration has already announced a USD 150 billion ten-year renewable energy initiative. In fact, it was a solar energy company -- by the name of Namaste ( 'welcome' in Indian language Hindi) - in Denver Colorado, where Obama and Vice President Joe Biden together announced the administration's renewable energy initiative in February this year.

Energy is fast becoming the focal point of the Indo-US relationship. Companies like Astonfield Renewable Resources Ltd, AES Solar Systems and Applied Materials are already in the process of exploring potential business opportunities in India. Apart from investment opportunities, US energy companies are looking at technology transfer and equipment export provisions to India. Driven by economic development and population growth, energy consumption in India has been increasing at one of the fastest rates the world over. The recently signed, (much awaited and amply controversial) Indo US nuclear deal is expected to help India achieve its installed capacity targets for additional energy generation. Besides, it opens energy generation opportunities for India with companies like Areva AV (EPA: CEI), GE (NYSE: GE) and Westinghouse Electric. In many ways, this is a direct analogy to the Indo -- US renewable energy ties or can even be seen as a subset of the larger energy plan that the two democracies are charting.

Solar energy generated in India at the end of 2007 was a low 1,748 MW compared to the overall energy demand of 130, 000 MW annually. Solar energy has vast potential and possibilities in a country like India which is located close to the tropics and experiences predominantly sunny weather. Renewable energy is of extreme importance considering today's environmental concerns. Recent research on renewable energy indicates that with adequate funding and political backing, technologies like wind energy and photovoltaic could meet 40% of the world's energy demands by 2050. Developed nations are increasingly facing environmental challenges and using alternative resources would mean mitigating the effects of global warming to an extent. As more countries wake up to the harsh reality of things to come, bilateral attempts to this effect, especially among economic powerhouses play a vital role.

Shortages of finance, efficiency and human cadre are the main obstacles to optimal renewable energy usage, according to International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). This statement is somewhat true in the case of inventor Mr. Larry P Kelley, owner of Silicon Solar Electric, Inc. based in Shelby, Michigan (www.siliconsolarelectric.com). He had developed a brilliant new method of making multi crystalline Si PV cells. Cost should be about US$0.69/watt for a ready to sell panel. The Silicon in this particular cell is about 0.007" thick, and the efficiency is 9.7%.(Not bad considering the crude solder strip front contact and no AR!) In production, the thickness will be 0.002" and the efficiency will be 15-18%. The company uses carbon for the 'backside' conductor. They expect to enter into full production by the 1st quarter of 2010. Factory output is projected to be only 5-8MW for the first full year, but with production ramping up quickly to 200Mwe/year. Projected selling price for a 1-watt cell in a module is less than $1. To make the project working, they are currently looking for investors.

Mr. Kelly had chosen to use multi-crystalline Silicon because this is generally the least expensive form of silicon other than the amorphous variety. Multicrystalline basically means small crystals one can see with the naked eye. Many companies cast silicon into blocks and then saw up the blocks into wafers 0.012-0.020" thick, while one company Evergreen Solar 'grows' ribbons of multicrystalline Si. Both of these methods result in thicknesses of about 0.012" -- 0.018" for the silicon. Obviously, the companies 'sawing ' the cast (or single crystal) silicon loose about 50% of the silicon as 'sawdust'. Silicon is a very 'brittle' material and is nearly impossible to slice any thinner without tremendous losses due to breakage.

India's nod for renewable energy partnership with U.S.

To meet the two challenges of climate change action and energy security, India has suggested a strategic partnership between Indian and U.S. business focusing on three R's -- renewables, reusables and recyclables.

According to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's Special Envoy for Climate Change Shyam Saran, "If energy is not to become a constraint on our growth -- the growth of India and the U.S. and the global economy as a whole, then a relatively rapid and significant shift to renewable and non-conventional energy sources becomes inevitable."

Addressing to the members of the U.S. India Business Council, a trade association comprising of 300 of the largest U.S. companies investing in India and global Indian companies, "both climate change action and energy security dictate this."

Even as he was speaking, a U.S. trade mission was in India to discuss business opportunities in the field of solar energy. This was the Obama administration's first trade mission to India.

Mr. Saran said, "strategy for the future, for both Indian and U.S. business is a renewable energy partnership covering different technological pathways and focusing on technology and product development."

India welcomed the Renewable Energy Initiative taken by President Barack Obama, he said, noting that India was currently in the process of elaborating an ambitious plan for solar energy and was looking at making more optimum and commercially viable use of bio-mass and bio-fuels.

Thanks to the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear agreement and Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) clearance, India was scaling up its plans for nuclear energy, which will significantly progress within India's own three-phase nuclear energy program that is based on the concept of a closed fuel cycle with minimal waste.

According to Mr. Saran," this is renewable energy par excellence." He said this while noting that the U.S. too is reviewing its policy on the processing of atomic waste. He added, "We hope that this will be an area we can work together in a practical manner, unburdened of the non-proliferation technicalities of the past."

In the wake of global warming and the issue of climate change and energy security, the global economy has begun to make a strategic shift from reliance on carbon-based fossil fuels to the progressively greater utilization of renewable energy sources.

Stressing on Indo-US partnership for making recycling a part of the initiative for achieving resource security, Saran said, "on the production side, recycling must become an integral part of the business model of the future."

"India and the U.S. have the intellectual and entrepreneurial resources to lead this newly emerging world, if we choose to work together," Mr. Saran said, noting: "A dramatic transformation in Indo-U.S. relations had opened up a wide-ranging spectrum of opportunities for economic partnership. The challenge before us now lies in translating these opportunities into practical collaborative partnerships on a scale and of a quality that befits the strategic partnership between our two countries."

Again the SUN is poised to join two great democracies together for the betterment of the otherwise deteriorating Planet Earth.

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