India's solar project developers import much of the technology they use, in part because equipment available internationally can provide a solar efficiency - the percentage of solar energy that the panels convert into electricity - of up to 17 percent. But anecdotal evidence suggests that systems in India can achieve only 14 percent at best, experts say.
According to the report released by Reuters (link), renewable energy technologies like wind and solar, which are mostly imported from the United States, Europe and China, are facing some problems in India because some are manufactured for sub-zero temperatures and dust free environments, said Indrani Barpujari, a research associate at The Energy Research Institute (TERI), based in New Delhi.
Her institute’s research suggests that in the hot, dusty air that is common in parts of India, the systems are struggling to generate the kind of power they do in other conditions.
Other experts dismiss the idea that the equipment is to blame.
“There are many types of technologies available," said Bibek Bandopadhyay, head of the Solar Energy Centre of the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. “If there is inefficiency, it may be because bad technology has been imported by some developers."
Arunabha Ghosh, head of the non-profit Council of Energy, Environment and Water, agreed that “it is not true to suggest that environmental conditions in producing countries differ and so the usage of the equipment in India will reduce efficiency.”
In most cases, “there are various technological options from, which a developer can choose what is best for his or her given site,” he said.
Ghosh did, however, acknowledge having heard complaints from the industry about under performing equipment.
"There are no studies over a substantial period of time to arrive at any clear conclusion," he said. "What we have done is suggest to the government that all (solar) power plants be monitored for at least two years to assess the efficiency levels, so that we can see whether there is a problem and what we might do about it."
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