<p>New Delhi: India's capacity to generate solar power could fall by 600-800 gigawatt-hour before mid-century due to air pollution and climate change, a study has projected.</p>.<p>The researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, found that northern, western and southern power grids -- where most solar parks are currently located -- will experience significant challenges in maintaining performance due to climate change.</p>.<p>Pollutants in the air can absorb and scatter sunlight, thereby lowering the intensity of the sun's radiation reaching the earth's surface.</p>.<p>Further, generating solar power relies heavily on weather and climate, and is, therefore, vulnerable to the effects of climate change.</p>.Dizziness, weightless tongue, baby feet: Challenges astronauts face upon return to earth.<p>The findings, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, "highlight the need for combined climate and pollution mitigation efforts to boost India's photovoltaic potential and secure a sustainable, resilient energy future".</p>.<p>Despite being endowed with abundant solar resources -- India receives nearly 300 clear-sky days every year -- the country has seen a persistent decline in incoming solar radiation, a phenomenon known as 'dimming', the authors said.</p>.<p>Using global climate models, the team projected the country's solar power potential by mid-century (2041-2050) under two scenarios -- one with moderate air pollution and climate change, and the other in which climate change is weakly tackled and air pollution strongly controlled.</p>.<p>The results of the analysis suggested that the national average potential for generating solar power could fall by two to nearly four per cent, compared to that during 1985-2014, mainly due to a reduced radiation and increased temperatures.</p>.<p>Further, temperatures of solar cells could be expected to rise by 1.5-2 degrees Celsius, resulting in efficiency losses and an additional of about 18 days of efficiency de-rating, especially in solar-rich regions.</p>.<p>Based on data of solar power generated during 2023-24, loss in generation capacity was projected to range from 600 gigawatt-hours, under moderately controlled air pollution and climate change, to up to 840 gigawatt-hours, under a weak climate action with strong air pollution control, according to the study.</p>.<p>Solar cells -- used in making solar panels and for converting sunlight into electricity -- would need to be innovated for future assessments looking into India's solar power potential, the team said.</p>.<p>They called for robust measures for controlling air pollution and urgent climate action to mitigate losses in generating solar power.</p>.<p>Further, rapidly transitioning to renewable energy is crucial to mitigating both air pollution and climate change, the authors said. </p>
<p>New Delhi: India's capacity to generate solar power could fall by 600-800 gigawatt-hour before mid-century due to air pollution and climate change, a study has projected.</p>.<p>The researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, found that northern, western and southern power grids -- where most solar parks are currently located -- will experience significant challenges in maintaining performance due to climate change.</p>.<p>Pollutants in the air can absorb and scatter sunlight, thereby lowering the intensity of the sun's radiation reaching the earth's surface.</p>.<p>Further, generating solar power relies heavily on weather and climate, and is, therefore, vulnerable to the effects of climate change.</p>.Dizziness, weightless tongue, baby feet: Challenges astronauts face upon return to earth.<p>The findings, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, "highlight the need for combined climate and pollution mitigation efforts to boost India's photovoltaic potential and secure a sustainable, resilient energy future".</p>.<p>Despite being endowed with abundant solar resources -- India receives nearly 300 clear-sky days every year -- the country has seen a persistent decline in incoming solar radiation, a phenomenon known as 'dimming', the authors said.</p>.<p>Using global climate models, the team projected the country's solar power potential by mid-century (2041-2050) under two scenarios -- one with moderate air pollution and climate change, and the other in which climate change is weakly tackled and air pollution strongly controlled.</p>.<p>The results of the analysis suggested that the national average potential for generating solar power could fall by two to nearly four per cent, compared to that during 1985-2014, mainly due to a reduced radiation and increased temperatures.</p>.<p>Further, temperatures of solar cells could be expected to rise by 1.5-2 degrees Celsius, resulting in efficiency losses and an additional of about 18 days of efficiency de-rating, especially in solar-rich regions.</p>.<p>Based on data of solar power generated during 2023-24, loss in generation capacity was projected to range from 600 gigawatt-hours, under moderately controlled air pollution and climate change, to up to 840 gigawatt-hours, under a weak climate action with strong air pollution control, according to the study.</p>.<p>Solar cells -- used in making solar panels and for converting sunlight into electricity -- would need to be innovated for future assessments looking into India's solar power potential, the team said.</p>.<p>They called for robust measures for controlling air pollution and urgent climate action to mitigate losses in generating solar power.</p>.<p>Further, rapidly transitioning to renewable energy is crucial to mitigating both air pollution and climate change, the authors said. </p>