UPSC CSE Prelims
Solar Energy Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 only

This question tests factual knowledge about solar power installations in India. Only Statement 2 about Kerala's airport is correct, while the claims about Gujarat and Goa are factually incorrect.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan (not Gujarat) is the largest solar park in India with a capacity of 2,245 MW, making it one of the largest in the world.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Cochin International Airport in Kerala became the world's first fully solar-powered airport in 2015, generating power through its 46 MW solar plant spread across 45 acres.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project in Madhya Pradesh (not Goa) is the largest floating solar photovoltaic project in India with a capacity of 600 MW.

📝 Short Notes: Major Solar Power Installations in India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2

Solar water pumps are versatile and can power both surface and submersible pumps, as well as both centrifugal and piston pumps. The type of pump (surface/submersible or centrifugal/piston) does not limit the application of solar power, making both statements incorrect.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Solar power can be used for running both surface pumps and submersible pumps, not just surface pumps.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Solar power can be used for running both centrifugal pumps and piston pumps, not just centrifugal pumps.

📝 Short Notes: Solar Water Pumping Systems

• Components: A solar water pumping system consists of three main components: photovoltaic (PV) array/solar panels, an electric motor (DC/AC/BLDC), and a pump.
• Types by Motor: Systems are classified as Direct Current (DC), Alternating Current (AC), or Brushless DC (BLDC) based on the motor type.
• Types by Pump Installation: Can use surface pumps (installed above ground) or submersible pumps (installed underwater in wells/borewells).
• Types by Pump Mechanism: Both centrifugal pumps (using rotational energy) and positive displacement pumps like piston pumps can be solar-powered.
• Applications: Ideal for irrigation, drinking water supply, livestock watering, and remote areas without grid electricity.
• Benefits: Clean, energy-efficient, sustainable, low operating costs, minimal maintenance, and environmentally friendly alternative to diesel/electric pumps.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2

Both statements about solar power production in India are incorrect. India is not among the top three global manufacturers of silicon wafers for photovoltaic units, and SECI does not determine solar power tariffs but facilitates project implementation.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: India does not rank among the top three manufacturers of silicon wafers for photovoltaic units; China, Taiwan, and South Korea dominate this sector with China alone accounting for over 90% of global production.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) does not determine solar power tariffs; tariffs are determined through a competitive bidding process conducted by various implementing agencies, with SECI acting as a facilitator and intermediary.

📝 Short Notes: Solar Power in India

• Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI): A government-owned enterprise under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), established in 2011 to facilitate solar energy deployment through competitive bidding, tendering, and project implementation.
• Tariff Determination: Solar power tariffs in India are market-driven and determined through reverse auction mechanisms where developers bid competitively; the lowest bidder wins the contract, ensuring cost-effective power procurement.
• Silicon Wafer Manufacturing: India's domestic solar manufacturing capacity is limited, with heavy reliance on imports (especially from China) for solar cells, modules, and silicon wafers; the government is promoting domestic manufacturing through Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes.
• Global Leaders: China dominates global solar manufacturing with over 90% market share in silicon wafers, followed by Taiwan and South Korea; India is focusing on building manufacturing capacity through policies like Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• India's Solar Capacity: India ranks among the top 5 countries globally in installed solar capacity and aims to achieve 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 as part of its climate commitments.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — production and use of solar energy by the households/consumers

Net metering is a billing mechanism that allows households and businesses with solar panel installations to send excess electricity generated during the day back to the power grid. In return, they receive credits on their electricity bills which can be used when they draw power from the grid during night-time or cloudy periods when solar production is low. This system promotes decentralized solar energy generation by making rooftop solar installations economically viable for individual consumers, as they effectively use the grid as a virtual battery without needing expensive physical storage systems.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Photovoltaics (PV) directly converts light into electricity using semiconductor materials, while Solar Thermal uses concentrated sunlight to generate heat, which drives turbines for electricity generation.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Photovoltaic systems generate Direct Current (DC), which is converted to AC through inverters. Solar Thermal systems produce AC electricity directly through conventional turbine-generator systems.

❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: India has a strong manufacturing base for Photovoltaics (companies like Adani Solar, Vikram Solar, Tata Power Solar), while Solar Thermal manufacturing is limited to small-scale applications like water heaters.