Sunny Makes Her Case: A Graphic Novel (Sunny #5)

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Scientists say that's ambitious, and that India will need to boost its solar capacity even more if it has any hope of keeping that promise.

A worker walks past lines of solar panels at the Roha Dyechem solar project in the western northwest Indian state of Rajasthan. A decade ago, Jay Vyas was an accountant in his 50s, working on a variety of projects, when a proposal for a rooftop solar installation came across his desk. Vyas and Divekar used to import solar panels from Germany or Singapore. They're expensive, but they last 25 years, and Vyas says he wasn't sure that would be the case with cheaper Chinese models, he explains.I think it's one of the fastest-growing industries in the country," says climate change expert Suruchi Bhadwal. She spoke to NPR by phone from the COP27 talks in Egypt. "Even the U.S. has not boosted its installed capacity so much, so fast." MUMBAI, India – It's smog season in India, when industrial and vehicular emissions mix with crop-burning smoke, and winter temperatures pull a huge sooty cloud down over much of the country. As India develops, and its 1.4 billion people get richer, its energy needs are expanding. Unlike many Western countries, which have pledged to cap overall emissions, India measures its emissions in proportion to its gross domestic product. This year, the government pledged to reduce by 45% the so-called "emissions intensity of its GDP" by 2030.

On a much smaller scale, Indian farmers often use a solar panel or two to run irrigation pumps in rural areas, where the electricity grid is shaky.

Even though I'm not in the age demographic the Sunny graphic novels are aimed at, they're still highly enjoyable. They're good stories about a girl transitioning from childhood to teenage-hood, and a fascinating time capsule of the author growing up in the seventies. And "Sunny Makes a Splash" is a great addition to the series. Like the rest of the series, the art for this series is fun to look at, colorful and nicely styled. It looks a little scratchy and messy at times, but at the same time that's part of its charm. The layout is simple and easy to follow, and there are some fun visual nods to the '70s throughout, which should appeal to older readers and help younger readers understand some of the quirks of the era. Sunny Makes a Splash is a delightful addition to the Sunny series suited for slightly older readers as Sunny finds a potential romantic interest. This graphic novel features a perfect depiction of 70’s summer experiences and a relatable protagonist working her first summer job before her last year of middle school. It will make for an enjoyable reading experience for older tweens — and even some younger ones!

The New York Times bestselling SUNNY series continues as Sunny finds herself in the spotlight in a competition unlike any other... The silicon inside, that's still imported from China – and is subject to price fluctuation," Divekar explains.

At this point, I am just going to read any new Sunny books. I know that about me, it is a fact and I am old enough to know not to deny it]

But through the haze, there are twinkling signs of hope popping up on rooftops across India's sprawling megacities: solar panels.

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Despite having lots of tropical sunshine, India gets about 70% of its electricity from burning coal – which exacerbates air pollution that's already some of the worst in the world. But this year, the country has also installed a record volume of solar energy. I just opened that file, and saw the client wanted to invest in solar," Vyas recalls. "Now, I'm passionate about looking into new things that might become commercially viable. So I thought, 'Why not?' and I started looking into it." It's not necessary to read the other Sunny books to understand the story here -- it stands well alone, though having read the other Sunny books would help you understand her relationship with her grandfather and her friends a little better. It's a fun, lighthearted story, never too heavy or serious and a fun look at the misadventures of one memorable summer. Vyas says it's typically around three to five years for most of his customers. But that's decreasing, he says. Rising global electricity prices make solar panels even more attractive now. In 2017, Vyas co-founded Koku Solar, a company that's since installed hundreds of small-scale solar projects on residential rooftops in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is the capital.