This paper will deliberate on the pioneering role played by the private sector entrepreneurs in the development of Solar Impulse-2 (SI-2), the Research and Development (R&D) challenges, the dual use technologies, the future of solar power in industry and aviation, the challenges to R&D in India, and a way ahead for India. [...] PIONEERING SPIRIT OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE The ingenuity, collaborative effort and pragmatism of the private sector were on display when the SI-2 landed at Ahmedabad on March 10, 2015, with the names of the main partners displayed on the aircraft and the pilots’ and crew’s uniforms. [...] The solar panels used on the SI-2 have an efficiency of 22.7 percent.6 According to the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) scientists, the efficiency of the solar panels in the last decade was about 8 percent and is likely to increase to 50 percent in the near future7. [...] The inventors of the SI-2 aim to capitalise on the success of the world tour and make it a mega event in the Conference on Climate Change of the United Nations, which is scheduled to be held at Paris in December 2015.9 The strategy of the team appears to be focussed on reaping benefits from the publicity they receive from the world tour and establish business links across the world. [...] The LCA has joined the IAF fleet and the ALH is slowly becoming the backbone of the helicopter fleet of the three Services and paramilitary forces.
- Pages
- 16
- Published in
- India
