Solar energy is what we need today to secure our tomorrow. From commercial buildings and government establishments, to factories, plants and even construction sites, the rampant spread of solar as an energy choice is fast picking up and rightly so. The other sources of energy, especially diesel power generation which is largely used at all these sites, is extremely detrimental to the environment. Wherever possible there is a need to replace fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy and construction sites where the pollution and carbon emissions generated is massive, is one such location.
The benefits of solar energy are innumerable and this is no surprise. It is now time for countries across the globe and especially for India to harness the sun’s energy and use it to their advantage. We say especially India, because the sun here shines bright for 300 days of the year. India is also racing ahead with its infrastructural developments and as such construction is rampant. This also means that in the absence of solar energy on these sites, there is a huge quantity of fossil fuels emitted and the carbon emissions are sky-rocketing. Given the climate crisis the country is facing, there is a need to put an immediate stop to carbon emissions wherever possible and construction sites can be step one.
Ground-mounted solar
One option available on most construction sites is that of installing ground-mounted temporary or permanent solar panels to provide electricity for all the equipment that need to be functioning. Currently most sites that do not have access to an electrical grid, especially in rural parts of India, use mobile generators which run on diesel or gasoline.
Installing ground-mounted solar panels in such areas can not only provide solar energy to the construction site at no harm to the environment. If well planned out it can also be used by those living or working out of the building after completion, saving years of carbon emissions.
Tying up with energy providers like Vivaan Solar, these panels can also be installed temporarily and then taken out, to be safely carried to the next construction site, where it is needed.
Roof-mounted solar panels
These might be a little tricky to construct in big open areas where there is nothing else around the construction site. However an easy hack to this could be to get them fitted on mobile solar vans or buses, similar to a generator van, to be then plugged in and used wherever necessary.
The mobile solar vans add a great deal of flexibility in terms of logistics and make a good investment for the builder in the long run too. It is essentially a generator but one that is powered by solar instead of diesel or gasoline.
Be it ground mounted or rooftop, any solar panel installation is environment friendly and could very easily be used to charge power tools, operate heavy machinery and to even run high power lights for night shifts.
Challenges
Like any other task, solar power integration into construction sites comes with its own set of challenges. Solar energy is not a good option for regions that receive very little sun or those that are located in heavily cold and now-clad regions. While setting up any kind of solar power generation system it is also important to study the area and project accurately and then take a call, as sometimes the solar installation, especially the roof-top one, might not be able to meet the power demands of the construction site. In such a scenario, other options can be opted for, but the bottom line is that solar should always be the first choice.
Another major challenge faced by construction sites could be that of evolving or changing plans. Keeping this in mind most construction sites should opt for temporary installations to ensure that it can accommodate any change in design or unforeseen construction challenges.
Both the construction industry and the solar energy industry are expected to grow exponentially in the coming years and it is only smart to work in unison for benefits that give shade to all. Most recent reports suggest that by 2026, the construction industry is expected to have an average growth rate of 6.2 percent year on year. The solar power industry on the other hand will increase by USD 240.42 billion till 2026 at a compounded annual growth rate of 35.24 percent. Given India’s solar energy goals which are 300 GW for 2030,and the long-term benefits of going solar working hand in hand with construction companies on site will aid in achieving not only the solar goal, but also help India be less reliant on fossil fuels for its power generation, benefiting the environment a great deal.