Renewable Energy

• •Syllabus: Renewable energy*

• •Source: PIB*

Context: India has reached a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey, with the country’s total renewable energy capacity crossing the 200 GW (gigawatt) mark as of October 10, 2024.

India’s renewable energy targets:

• By 2030: Achieve 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.

• Net-Zero by 2070: As per India’s commitments at COP26.

Present status of renewable energy in India (as of October 2024):

Category | Installed Capacity (GW) | Contribution (%)

Solar Power | 90.76 GW | 20.05%

Wind Power | 47.36 GW | 10.46%

Large Hydro | 46.92 GW | 10.36%

Small Hydro | 5.07 GW | 1.12%

Bio Power | 11.32 GW | 2.50%

Total Renewable | 201.45 GW | 46.30%

Total Installed Capacity | 452.69 GW |

Source: Central Electricity Authority, Government of India.

Government steps:

• National Green Hydrogen Mission: Focuses on developing green hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy security.

• PM-KUSUM: Provides solar irrigation pumps to farmers, promoting solar energy use in agriculture.

• PLI Schemes: Encourages domestic manufacturing of solar PV modules by offering production-linked incentives.

• 100% FDI: Allows full foreign direct investment in renewable energy through the automatic route to attract capital.

• Waiver of ISTS Charges: Exempts renewable projects from inter-state transmission system charges until June 2025 to promote clean energy growth.

• Renewable Purchase Obligation: Mandates power utilities to purchase a set percentage of their energy from renewable sources until 2029-30.

• Viability Gap Funding: Provides financial assistance for offshore wind energy projects to make them commercially viable.

• Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022: Facilitates easier access to renewable energy for businesses, promoting greater usage.

Challenges of renewable energy:

• High upfront costs: Significant initial investments are required for solar and wind energy infrastructure, which can be prohibitive.

• Intermittency & variability: Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are dependent on weather and time, making them less predictable.

• Infrastructure needs: Renewable energy projects require large areas of land and skilled technicians for installation and maintenance.

• Policy & Regulatory hurdles: Inconsistent policies and bureaucratic delays create uncertainty and slow project implementation.

• Raw material access: The renewable sector faces shortages of rare earth materials critical for manufacturing technologies.

• Geographical disparities: Renewable resources like wind and solar are unevenly distributed across regions, limiting adoption in certain areas.

Way ahead:

• Technological advancements: Invest in energy storage solutions and smart grids to manage renewable energy variability.

• Policy consistency: Develop stable, long-term policies to create a favorable investment environment in the renewable sector.

• Capacity building: Enhance training programs for skilled technicians to ensure smooth deployment and maintenance of renewable energy systems.

• International collaboration: Foster partnerships with global entities to access technology and raw materials, boosting the renewable energy sector.

Conclusion:

India’s renewable energy journey has reached a significant milestone, marked by the impressive achievement of over 200 GW of installed capacity. This accomplishment is a testament to the nation’s commitment to a sustainable energy future, driven by a diverse array of renewable sources, including solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy.

Insta Links:

• Challenges-posed-by-renewable-energy-projects-in-India

• Perspective-Indias-green-energy-transition

1. 1.With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements: (UPSC-2018)

• India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units. The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

• India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units.

• The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: d)

1. 1.“Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC-2018)