Utilization of Solar Energy in India

During its sixth 5-year plan, India intends to spend US$.85 million on efforts to tap solar energy. Quite a bit of work for utilizing this source of energy has been done. Hot water systems, solar hot air systems, solar desalination plants, solar thermal power generation plants, solar powered cold storages, and water pumping sets have been developed by organizations engaged in solar energy research. India was the first to try solar heat for wood drying as far back as 1961. A prototype experimental kiln was erected in the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun in the late sixties. Extensive trials were made in the early seventies. Although the thermal efficiency of such kilns is very low, 40 to 50 percent thermal efficiency can be achieved. Eight commercial installations based on the F.R.I. design have been erected and are in use in different parts of the country. Erection cost of a kiln with a 250-cubic foot capacity is approximately US$3,200. Considerable efforts are being made to use solar energy in drying various agricultural products.

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