Harnessing Solar Energy Through Photovoltaic System in Chandigarh: A Step Towards Preparing for Climate Change

Abstract

Climate is rapidly changing with disruptive impacts. Without decisive action, energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would lead to climate degradation. All types of energy efficiency technologies will require widespread deployment, as global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052, if it continues to increase at the current rate. Photovoltaic (PV) energy is one of the most promising emerging technologies in mitigating the impact of climate change. PV is the name of a method of converting solar energy into direct current electricity. Therefore, the objectives of this article are to study the initiatives taken by energy development agencies in India for promoting renewable sources of energy, to study the use of solar power as a renewable source of energy through PV system and to analyse the solar PV rooftop system in Chandigarh as a case study. The article is an empirical study based on primary data. For the purpose of collecting the primary data, a structured questionnaire was prepared for citizens and an interview schedule for officials. The results of the study show that the majority of the citizens were satisfied with the solar photovoltaic (SPV) installations in Chandigarh, while a very few of them were dissatisfied and their dissatisfaction revolved around getting clearances from different departments.