4.27 A project on `Solar air heating using matrix absorber' implemented by Planter's Energy Network (PEN), Madurai has been completed during the year. Development of a low cost galvanized iron (GI) matrix collector with efficiency of 65% has been reported.

4.28 A 10 kW solar dish Stirling system for generation of power from solar energy has been commissioned at Vellore Institute of Technology. Initial trial runs are being conducted to optimise the system performance. In a project sponsored to Sardar Patel Renewable Research Institute at Vallabh Vidyanagar, experiments are being conducted to determine the heat transfer potential of the earth with different moisture conditions. This work is expected to provide further insights for designing earth heat exchangers for providing comfort conditions in buildings.

Aditya Solar Shops

4.29 To make renewable energy products easily available to people and provide them after sale repair services, the Ministry has been promoting the establishment of Aditya solar shops (showroom-cum-sales and service centres) in major cities of the country by providing some financial assistance to State nodal agencies. This assistance is also extended to manufacturer's associations / reputed NGOs on case to case basis. Finding the concept of solar shops very useful for the public, it has now been decided to establish these shops in smaller cities/towns also so as to make the renewable energy facilities available to rural and semi-urban areas also. During the tenth plan, a provision has been made to provide financial assistance not only for the establishment of solar shops by government agencies but also by private entrepreneurs and NGOs who are able to provide an establishment having a minimum area of 200 sq. ft. Support will also be provided for establishment of `Solar counters' having a minimum area of 50 sq. ft. in existing shops/ showrooms dealing with consumer durables. The shops/counters to be established by private entrepreneurs and NGOs will be identified by State nodal agencies as per the guidelines of MNES. The details of financial assistance available for these shops/counters are given in Table 4.2.

4.30 During the year, 5 Aditya Solar Shops started functioning at Bangalore, Berhampur (Orissa), Thalassary (Kerala), Gangtok and Itanagar bringing the total number of Aditya Solar Shops operating in the country to 35. Ten more shops are in the process of establishment. With the participation of private entrepreneurs and local NGOs in the programme from current year, it is expected that the Ministry will be able to establish at least one shop in each district of the country. To encourage these shops to perform well and make a good turn over from sale and repair of renewable energy devices, the Ministry has been giving an award to the best shop on annual basis. The award for the best performance for the year 2000-01 was given to the shop at Alipore, Kolkata. The shop is being run by West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency through an NGO named FOSET. The total turnover made by the shop for renewable energy products during the year was around Rs.144 lakh.

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC PROGRAMME

4.31 Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) technology enables direct conversion of sunlight into electricity through semiconductor devices called solar cells. Solar cells are interconnected and hermetically sealed to constitute a photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic modules are integrated with other components such as storage batteries, electronics, etc. to constitute solar photovoltaic (SPV) systems and power plants. Photovoltaic systems and power plants are highly reliable, modular in nature, cause no pollution and have long life. Such systems and power plants have emerged as viable power sources for applications such as lighting, water pumping and telecommunications and are being increasingly used for meeting the electrical energy needs in remote villages, hamlets, hospitals and households in the hilly areas, forest regions, deserts and islands in the country. The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources has been implementing a country wide Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) Programme over the last two decades. The country has developed a strong research base with indigenous production capabilities in the entire area starting from silicon material to solar cells, photovoltaic modules, complete systems and power plants.