India’s Green Energy Transition Sansad TV: Perspective- India’s Green Energy Transition | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

India is in the process of transitioning towards a low carbon, climate-resilient economy, aligning with its renewable energy targets and carbon emissions reduction goals as outlined in its nationally determined contributions under the Paris agreement. With a commitment to the Paris Accord, India has set a target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Clean Energy

• Surpassing the NDC commitment: India is making significant strides towards surpassing its nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by aiming to achieve 40% of electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based sources by 2030, as indicated by reports and documents.
• Reduction in emission intensity of GDP: India has made substantial progress in reducing the emission intensity of GDP by 24% between 2005 and 2016, aligning closely with the voluntary declaration to reduce it by 20%-25% by 2020.
  • Moreover, India accomplished these targets with just 2% of the $100 billion committed to developing nations in Copenhagen (2009), realized by 2015.
• Expansion of Renewable Energy: India is executing one of the most ambitious renewable energy expansion programs to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. Clean energy encompasses energy derived from renewable, zero-emission sources that do not pollute the atmosphere when utilized, alongside energy conserved through energy efficiency measures. In simpler terms, it refers to energy obtained from renewable, zero-emission sources (renewables) and energy preserved through energy efficiency (EE) measures. While clean energy pertains to energy sources that produce minimal air pollutants, green energy specifically refers to energy derived from natural sources. There exists an overlap between clean energy and green or renewable energy sources, yet they are not entirely synonymous. The optimal clean energy mix is achieved where green energy intersects with renewable energy, exemplified by solar and wind energy.
• Clean Energy Sources:
  • Sunlight
  • Wind power
  • Hydro or water power
  • Geothermal power
  • Biomass

Enhancing Access to Clean Energy

• To promote clean fuel usage in rural areas, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana should be supplemented by initiatives such as establishing biomass pelletizing units and distributing efficient biomass stoves.
• In agriculture, there should be an increase in the distribution targets of solar irrigation pumps, facilitated by credit support from NABARD and government subsidies.
• Exploration and research into potential non-conventional energy sources like geothermal and tidal energy should be undertaken to make them technologically feasible and accessible.

Prospects for India

• A recent report by NITI Aayog and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) titled "Towards a Clean Energy Economy: Post-Covid-19 Opportunities for India’s Energy and Mobility Sectors" sheds light on promising prospects for India.
• According to the report, India's transport sector has the potential to reduce cumulative carbon dioxide emissions by 1.7 gigatonnes and avoid approximately 600 million tonnes of oil equivalent in fuel demand by 2030.
• Diversification of the clean energy supply also lessens reliance on imported fuels, thereby reducing associated financial and environmental burdens.
• Renewable clean energy offers inherent cost savings as there's no need for fuel extraction and transportation, unlike conventional fuels such as oil or coal.
• With the global shift away from fossil fuels, renewable and clean energy sectors are emerging as growth areas, presenting opportunities in eMobility, power generation, and storage.
• Developing expertise in next-generation power solutions can benefit those who embrace clean energy, offering employment and contracting opportunities.

Challenges

• Power generation relying on uncontrollable natural resources poses a significant challenge in renewable energy.
• Consistent high power quality is essential for network stability and efficiency, with potential costs and equipment failures associated with power quality issues.
• Most renewable energy plants require large areas of space, often dictated by resource location, which may deter potential users.
• While awareness is improving, there remains a lack of information about the benefits and necessity of renewable energy.
• High initial installation costs hinder the development of renewable energy.

Way forward for India

• In light of substantial shifts in India's energy system, focusing on near-term transitions can help achieve or surpass 2030 targets while fostering developmental benefits, including a thriving renewable industry.
• Identifying strategic opportunities for economic recovery, particularly in the transport sector, can transform pandemic challenges into clean energy transition opportunities.
• Investment in research and development (R&D) programs and human resource development, along with local content requirements, is crucial.
• Strengthening the institutional structure to facilitate the flow of central financial assistance and monitor policy implementation is imperative.

Conclusion

• Clean energy is poised to be the future of global power needs as reliance on fossil fuels diminishes.
• As the push for clean, green, and renewable energy advances, costs will decrease, and opportunities for development and installation of new power solutions will increase.
• Growing recognition of the environmental, societal, and economic benefits of clean energy, coupled with increasing commitments to green power agendas at various levels, will continue to drive progress in this field.