Electrical Revolution: Renewable Energy Scope In India

Renewable Energy in India

The India is rapidly growing country with population of 1.3 billion. It has a massive demand of energy. At the time of independence, power deficit in India. Over seven decades, efforts to make India energy independent is continued. Today, we have power surplus nation with total installed electrical capacity over 4 Lakh MW.

India’s power generation mix is rapidly shifts towards renewable energy.
Today India is world’s 3rd largest producer of renewable energy with 40% of its capacity from non-fossil fuels. As on 9th September, 2022

India’s capacity of renewable source of energy

Solar energy	48.55 GW
Wind energy	40.03 GW
Small hydro energy	4.83 GW
Large hydro energy	46.51 GW
Biopower	10.62 GW

Journey of Renewable Energy

India relied heavily on coal to meet its energy demand. However, India has been committed to looking for more alternative energy sources for sustainable development. With the beginning of hydro power, with major hydro electric power projects starts in India. Many policies and regulatory initiatives have promoted hydro power development and investments in projects. India is ranked 5th position in the usable hydro power potential.
National Aeronautical Laboratory (NAL) developed windmill, primarily for supplying irrigation water in 1960. It is start of journey of wind energy. Today, we have 4th largest wind power capacity in the world due to movement of wind in the southern, western and north western regions of India.
Millions of Indians are beneficial from solar cooking and lighting which are solar based applications in environment friendly manner. India has join hand with International Solar Alliance which is action oriented platform for solar energy technologies. The membership of ISA is open to all member states of USA and 107 countries are signatories to the ISA framework agreement. The Alliance aims to effective utilize solar energy to reduce fossil fuel dependence therefore creating greener planet.
Biomass is renewable, widely available source of energy to provide significant employment in rural areas. India has co-fired biomass in thermal plants in order to reduce CO2 footprint in the thermal power generation. The biomass power / co-generation programme starts since mid nineties. More than 800 biomass power and bagasses (Bagasse is by product of sugar cane that is used as fuel in boilers to produce steam)/non-bagsse cogeneration projects have been installed in the country for feeding power to grid.

Promoting Clean Energy in India

India has decoupled economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions. The net zero emissions target by 2030 by Indian Railways alone will reduce emissions by 60 millions tonnes annually.
India’s UJALA LED bulb campaign is reducing emissions by 40 millions tonnes annually. India has launches Hydrogen mission in 2013 to make India as World’s Largest Hydrogen hub.
India’s per capital CO₂emission are much lower than the global average. The USA CO₂emits 14.7 tonnes per capita, China CO₂emits 7.6 tonnes per capita whereas India CO₂emits 1.8 tonner per capita ( for each person )

PARIS Agreement 2015

India is committed to 40% share of power generation from non-fossil fuel sources. However, we have achieved this target in 2020 ahead of 2030 as time line.
India is committed to achieve net zero emission by 2070 which includes short term target of
Increase renewable energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030
Meeting 50% energy requirement from renewable energy sources.
Reducing CO₂ emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030
Reducing emissions intensity of India’s gross domestic product by 45% by 2030.