What’s with Solar panels and their usage…

Why do stand alone SME industrial units, homes and I include cold storages, shy away from installing solar panels to generate electricity?

Yes, cost is a factor as always. But that is one factor that is continually showing a downwards trend. (Today, if reports are true, the selling price per watt of solar photo voltaic is about 0.50 USD. Reports also suggest that this price is expected to come down to 36 cents per watt in 5 years. Past records show that in 1977 the price per what stood at USD 76 per watt).

The other reason quoted is the hassles of operations and maintenance. This is typically because the implied concept of Solar PV panel requires the use of a bank of batteries to store the cheap electricity. And batteries need to be replaced every now and then. The electricity that is generated from solar insolation would need to be stored in batteries, which in turn would be sourced to create AC power for use in common utilities. Another limitation for industries is that they may need 3 phase input into their machines.

But why store this electricity, why bother with batteries and et al? What if the solar power is fed directly into the local grid. I am not talking about sharing the surplus generated with the grid… the concept is to feed ALL that the sun generates for you, straight into the grid.

Cold-chain Investment requirements (India)

Total investment projected in cold chains over the next 5/10 years

As per estimates by the National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD), the total investment expected in India’s cold chain in the next 5 years is approximately USD 6 to 10 billion. These estimates are based on the following, basis current costing norms (and could be higher). This investment estimate does not include cost of land and added cold-chain ancillary requirements -

• Current gap in cold storage infrastructure estimated about 36 million metric tonnes
• Estimated investment of $ 5 billion in storage infrastructure alone; at average cost of $ 127 per ton capacity for multi-product storage other ancillary infrastructure. The land and other infrastructure would require further $ 5 billion investment.
• Specialised storage systems like Controlled Atmosphere cold stores would involve a higher investment cost of $ 580 per ton capacity.
• Further investment would be needed for upgrading technology of existing cold storages, which is estimated at $ 27 per ton capacity. Such upgradation involves thermal integrity, refrigeration installation, handling systems, etc.
• These cost estimates are linked to norms for minimum design standards as established by the government.
• In refrigerated transport, the capacity is required to grow 3 fold to fully service the existing and more for growing storage capacity. Current estimate of refrigerated transport indicates an available on road capacity of only 3.6 million MT.
• An estimated $ 1 billion investment will be required for long haul refrigerated transportation. A refrigerated vehicle of 10 ton capacity currently costs $ 44,000/.