Rural electrification programme through solar photovoltaics in Odisha, India

In India, over 80,000 villages remain to be un-electrified and particularly in the state of Odisha, 9326 villages are still to be electrified. Odisha is situated in south of Tropic of Cancer between latitude 17 – 23°N and receives nearly 5–6 kWh/m²/day of solar radiation. As Odisha receives an abundance of solar radiation throughout the year except for some interruption during the monsoon and winter seasons, it has a vast potential for harnessing very large quantities of solar power. Moreover, large portions of the western part of the state, far away from the coasts, are in rain shadow areas, which receive solar radiation round the year, virtually, without any interruption. This study attempts to establish the challenges associated to solar energy scenario in rural living of Odisha with a glimpse of the presently operating government projects and projects to be installed based on solar technology.