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6.1.4 Potential of solar energy in India


India has the potential to generate 35 MW/km2 using solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy.


Solar energy of about 5,000 trillion kWh per year is incident over India’s land area with most parts receiving 4-7 kWh per sq. m per day. Hence both technology routes (solar thermal and solar photovoltaic) for conversion of solar radiation into heat and electricity can effectively be harnessed providing huge scalability for solar power in India.

The states with very high solar radiation are Rajasthan, northern Gujarat and parts of Ladakh region, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.