Final answer:
Solar energy is poised to make major contributions to India's energy sector by reducing the environmental impact of coal usage, utilizing the country's geographical advantage for sunlight exposure, and providing a decentralized solution to address load-shedding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Solar energy is indeed expected to play a significant role in India for several reasons. Firstly, India's reliance on coal has led to substantial air pollution and environmental issues. The country recognizes the urgent need to transition to cleaner energy sources to protect environmental health and secure energy sustainability. Secondly, India's geography is advantageous for solar energy, as it has a high number of sunny days throughout the year, which can be leveraged to produce vast amounts of solar power.
This availability of sunlight can be harnessed to decrease dependence on fossil fuels, reducing import bills and increasing energy security. Lastly, in response to load-shedding issues, where power is shut off to different parts of the grid to manage demand, solar energy presents a decentralized solution. It can allow for local power generation, thereby reducing the load on the grid and alleviating power outages.