Renewable Sources of Energy: Prospects and Issues |
Box 2: Solar energy scenario in Kolar Solar energy use in rural Kolar is almost negligible. But rural population is aware of solar technology and very much interested to see and know more about solar equipment. Many place people are even ready to go for solar equipment, but unfortunately they are handicapped with the knowledge of market and related issues. Urban Kolar also is as bad as rural in solar energy use as there is not much progress in spite of market opportunities. Only some commercial firms like Hotels, hostels are using solar thermal water heaters for their water heating needs. Even some households have installed solar water heaters, but their spread is negligible. A recent installation of solar lighting system at Chinmayaswamy temple, Chokkahalli, Kolar is a progressive step taken by KSCST (Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology). Kolar is hotter districts of Karnataka and has a good potential for solar energy development. Promotion of solar energy from Govt. side can bring in some major changes in energy sector. Solar Potential in Kolar:The empirical relationships between global radiation (GR) and climatological parameters such as sunshine mean daily temperature, relative humidity, specific humidity, minimum and maximum temperature and rainfall (based on data at Bangalore) are used to compute global radiation (GR-kWh/Sq.m.) for Kolar. Kolar has GR range of 5.2-6.77 during January-May and is in range of 4.6 - 5.1 during monsoon months, July-September. |