Solar Energy: Potential to facilitate household rural electrification
Bringing Light to Rural Homes: Solar Energy's Role in Electrification
Before solar energy came into existence, energy produced by the governments was the sole source of meeting the electricity needs of the people. However, due to large energy requirements, production has to be done on a large scale. And not only this but making the generated electricity available to every person, at every corner of the country is also a task. Both the large-scale generation and long-distance transportation of electricity are difficult tasks.
Due to these difficult tasks, sometimes energy grids lack adequate supply. The electricity needs of all the people around the world cannot be met even after producing it in heavy amounts and spending loads of money on long-distance transportation. This results in forcing many people, villages, and regions to go in darkness for a long time. The forceful living in the darkness of large communities in the world is also a cause of regional and social backwardness and imbalance.
The needs for basic amenities in rural and remote areas are not different from those of urban areas. Well, humans are the ones who reside in both! Anyways, solar energy can be another option for energy production in these areas. But, lack of awareness about renewable resources like solar energy is also a reason for low adoption of it in rural areas. There can be many reasons pointed out for the lack of awareness, like low maintenance, under-developed human skills, poor financial situations, etc.
Solar energy has lots of positive effects on society, the economy, and the environment. Among the other benefits, independent energy production is an important key to electrifying rural areas around the world. When energy grids are unable to produce or supply sufficient energy, Solar Energy comes into play. Solar panels capture light and radiation directly from the sun, and then this light or radiation is converted into electricity by photovoltaic cells. No other resource than the sun is required for energy production, which is why those who have switched to solar energy are no longer dependent on energy grids to meet their needs.
Keeping the characteristics of solar energy in mind, we can assume that it has a high potential for electrifying rural regions around the world. Sun is present everywhere, so, in rural areas. This normal fact can be used as an opportunity to utilize solar energy to its highest potential. Solar panels in rural areas can be used to produce energy for individual households by installing them on rooftops or in standalone methods to facilitate a bunch of households together.
In fact, solar energy will produce electricity in a way that will allow personal energy production and bring rural areas out of the immense darkness. At this point, many must be wondering what personal energy production is. Well, it’s simple. Installing solar panels on rooftops or in backyards allows people to produce electricity for their household only. This personal generation reduces the dependence of people on long-distance transportation and energy grids.
On the other side, it also reduces the money that is being spent on the transmission of electricity. The government could invest in the development of rural regions or solar technologies, making it more accessible for them. Solar energy’s main motto is to lighten up the areas living in darkness for a long time, but unintentionally, it also kick-starts rural development.
Another reason behind the low utilization of solar energy in rural areas is the lack of awareness and poor financial background of the majority. The fact that solar energy reduces the costs of electricity is true, but not to forget, it does involve installation and maintenance costs. These might not make it super-expensive for urban area people, but it does make it unaffordable for rural regions. Other than this, awareness about the benefits of solar energy and how it can be a boon for them plays an important role in the successful entry of solar energy into rural areas.
The challenges faced by solar energy in rural areas are no less, but these can be surmounted by government intervention. The government should provide subsidized solar panels and create awareness about the benefits so that rural people can understand that they are most benefited from this model. It can lure them to adopt solar energy, and rural areas in the dark can be brought out of it with the help of solar energy.
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