Assessment of Solar-Biomass Power Potential in the State of Punjab, India

Abstract

During COP26, India made commitments regarding generation of 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuel resources by year 2030, which includes utilization of renewable energy sources. Keeping in view of the rapidly growing energy demand, the current study explore the exploitable solar and biomass power potential in the state of Punjab, India. This work discusses the potential and feasibility analysis of solar-biomass hybrid energy system for power generation in all districts of Punjab. Solar energy potential and biomass generation estimation have been identified using various parameters like global solar radiation, sunshine hours, solar suitable land area, surplus biomass, heating values, and feed rate. Simulations for feasibility analysis were performed on System Advisor Model using data available for all the districts. The renewable output of the study is estimated in terms of capacity potential (MW) and exploitable electricity potential (MWh) for the state of Punjab. The study showed that Rupnagar district has the maximum solar potential (i.e., 69.03 MW) among all the districts of Punjab due to huge availability of wasteland area whereas, Jalandhar district has the minimum solar potential (i.e., 0.23MW) in Punjab due to less availability of wasteland area. Similarly, Sangrur districts produces huge amount of biomass (6838.23 kt/yr) while Nawanshahr produces least amount of biomass power. In the end, the study concluded that the electricity potential for both technologies and its capability to fulfil entire electricity demand of the state.