Solar power plants can enable
a shift away from polluting
alternatives such as diesel-based
generation, especially in isolated,
snowbound areas where the
opportunity cost of land is relatively
low. Technical solutions to the
challenges of difficult terrain and
climatic conditions include bifacial
modules and so-called passivated
emitter and rear cell technology—
all with fixed mounting systems.
It is important to train staff and
to optimize equipment for site-specific risks like heavy snow
loads. Both utility-scale projects
for export, as well as small setups
for supplying local communities,
may be explored. This Live
Wire recommends practices for
setting up solar installations in
snowbound terrain, based on the
Bank’s assessment of technical
requirements for setting up a 1
GW solar power project in Spiti
Valley, Himachal Pradesh (Evergy
Engineering GmbH 2020).