International Journal of Multi-Disciplinary Research and Developmental Studies
E-ISSN: 2469-7811 • Impact Factor - 9.587

ASSESSMENT OF SOLAR ENERGY POTENTIAL IN THE KONKAN REGION OF MAHARASHTRA: A GEOGRAPHICAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

The Konkan region of Maharashtra—comprising districts like Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Thane, and Palghar—presents a distinct geographical and economic profile for solar energy development compared to the inland plateau or semi-arid zones like Marathwada. Geographical Assessment • Topography and Location: The Konkan region lies between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Sahyadri (Western Ghats) mountain range to the east, spanning a total geographical area of roughly 3.08 million hectares. • Monsoon and Cloud Cover: Unlike the arid or semi-arid districts of Maharashtra that experience over 300 sunny days annually, Konkan experiences heavy to very high seasonal rainfall during the southwest monsoon, alongside sustained high relative humidity and atmospheric moisture. • Land Availability and Hilly Terrain: The landscape is heavily undulating, forested, and broken by numerous creeks and steep slopes. Large stretches of contiguous, flat wasteland suitable for massive utility-scale solar parks are scarce compared to northern or eastern Maharashtra. However, decentralized solutions—such as rooftop solar or localized installations on hilly or non-agricultural elevated terrain (e.g., studies in Raigad identifying specific hilly villages for micro-installations)—show localized viability. • Solar Irradiance: Global horizontal irradiance (GHI) is reasonable during non-monsoon months, though annual average yield is tempered by prolonged cloudy/overcast days in June through September.

Keywords: Konkan, Maharashtra, solar energy, economic, geographical

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