Prelims: GS III – Energy| Environment
Why in News?
Recently, a study found that the aerosol pollution reduces the solar power generation capacity.
Findings of the study
- Analysis published in – Nature Sustainability.
- Reduced solar power generation – Aerosols in the air reduced the amount of solar power generated in India by 9.6% in 2023, equivalent to around 15 terawatt-hours (TWh).
- Global average loss – It was 5.8%.
- Role of smog – It directly reduces the amount of sunlight reaching solar panels, thus undermining an important source of power meant to replace coal in India.
Smog is a mixture of aerosols and gases
- Aerosols – They are tiny solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in the atmosphere, ranging in size from a few nanometres to several micrometres.
- Aerosol pollution – It refers to excessive concentration of these particles in the air, adversely affecting human health, visibility, weather, and climate.
Types
- Natural Aerosols – Dust storms, sea salt, volcanic ash, pollen, forest-fire smoke.
- Anthropogenic (Human-made) Aerosols – Sulfates, nitrates, black carbon (soot), fly ash, industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, biomass burning.
- Major Sources
- Fossil fuel combustion in power plants and industries.
- Vehicular emissions.
- Crop residue burning and biomass combustion.
- Construction activities and road dust.
- Mining and quarrying operations.
- Natural events such as volcanic eruptions and dust storms.
- Environmental and Health Impacts:
- Cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
- Reduce visibility, leading to smog formation.
- Influence cloud formation and precipitation patterns.
- Alter Earth's radiation balance.
India vs China analysis –
- Absolute Energy Loss (2023) - China experienced the highest absolute loss globally at 61.3 TWh due to its massive overall solar capacity, while India lost approximately 15 TWh
- Fractional loss - India faced a higher efficiency impact with a 9.6% reduction in its total solar generation potential, compared to China's lower fractional loss of 7.7%.
- Share of loss - China alone accounted for 54.9% of all aerosol-related solar energy losses worldwide, whereas India's share remained highly significant but smaller in absolute volume.
- 2013 -2023 Pollution data- India’s aerosol-induced solar production losses remained stagnant and flat with no reduction. In contrast, China successfully decreased its losses by roughly 1.4% annually through aggressive power plant retrofits.
Reference
The Hindu| Air pollution and Solar Power Generation
