India’s peak electricity demand as on 9th June 2022, was at a record high at 210,793 MW. Approximately 200,000 MW. And the Bhadla Solar Power Plant can produce more than 2,000 MW. So if we set up 100 such solar power plants in India, we can meet the electricity demands of our country solely by using solar energy.
Coming back to the global estimates, the 500,000 km² estimate, there are some interesting comparisons. The total area of highways in America is 94,000 km². It is about 20% of the 500,000 km² required. America accounts for 20% of the global energy consumption. It means that the resources spent by America to lay the roads, for the vehicles, If solar energy panels are installed in an area of an equal size, America’s electricity demands can be met solely by solar energy.
There’s an interesting comparison involving the golf courses. The size of a typical golf course is 1 km². There are about 40,000 golf courses around the world. So if solar farms are set up instead of the golf courses, it’ll account for 10% of the land requirement. Obviously, this plan sounds wonderful. But if it is so good, why aren’t governments across the world executing it?
