Solar efficiency sees a major boost with the shift from Polycrystalline to Monocrystalline

By installing solar energy capacity, Panasonic is advancing its commitment to carbon neutrality and strengthening the nation’s energy security. As of the end of August 2024, the firm’s installed solar capacity has reached 90 GW, making it the fastest-growing energy source in India. Let us know more from Amit Barve.

What innovations in solar technology are driving energy savings, and how are they impacting the overall energy landscape?

The last decade has been a game-changer for the solar energy sector, marked by breakthrough innovations in technology and production deployment. The efficiency curve has significantly improved for the first time in decades, with a shift from polycrystalline to monocrystalline technology, followed by half-cut monocrystalline and now TOPCon. With the least negative temperature coefficient and annual degradation, these higher-efficiency solar modules generate more power in a given area, allowing greater capacity installation within the same dimensions and improved energy yields.

How is the solar market growing in Tier 2 & 3 cities, and what challenges does it face in these regions?

With more flat-roof homes and greater available roof space, Tier 2 and 3 cities offer ideal conditions for solar growth compared to Tier 1 cities, which have limited potential due to high-rise buildings. Solar energy is gaining significant traction in these cities as energy consumption per household rises, along with increased affordability and financial viability. We are witnessing higher adoption, particularly in the residential segment, and expect this momentum to continue for the next decade.

What are PEWIN’s key initiatives toward sustainability and green energy?

At Panasonic, we are dedicated to green energy through our “Green Impact” mission, under which we are undertaking multiple initiatives. These include a commitment to power all our operating units with 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. Additionally, we are helping our customers achieve net carbon neutrality by providing solutions in solar energy, EV charging infrastructure, hydrogen fuel cells, and lithium-ion storage systems. At Panasonic Electric Works India (PEWIN), all our factories have already implemented solar rooftop installations, and 20 percent of our energy consumption now comes from renewable sources. We aim to increase this to 100 percent by 2030, which aligns with Panasonic’s global commitment.

How are government policies like the PM Kusum Solar Subsidy Yojana 2024 and Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana helping to accelerate solar adoption in India?

The Suryodaya Yojana is key in accelerating solar adoption in India. Encouraging policies like this have sparked growth in distributed solar generation, which had previously been lagging. With greater participation from farmers and residential consumers, solar energy can leverage its decentralised nature, generating power at the point of consumption and reducing stress on the transmission infrastructure. This helps cut down on the high costs and energy losses associated with long-distance transmission and contributes to increasing solar capacity and advancing our carbon neutrality goals.

What potential future developments could shape the solar sector, such as solar-powered hydrogen production and space-based solar power?

To achieve a carbon-neutral society as part of the Government of India’s initiative, we must strengthen our solar energy efforts and explore additional clean energy sources like hydrogen. As part of our “Green Impact” mission, Panasonic has been actively involved in the hydrogen segment, having already launched hydrogen fuel cells in select markets to generate clean energy. When combined with storage batteries and solar energy, these fuel cells enable a 100 percent transition to clean energy. We anticipate significant growth in these clean energy sectors in the coming years.