Time is of the essence, steps must be taken to increase consumption of renewable energy(Indian Express)

Mains Paper 3: Environment
Prelims level: Renewable energy
Mains level: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Context

• Energy will not be central to the unfolding electoral campaign.
• It should be brought front and square onto the policy agenda: Because its current trajectory is fundamentally antithetical to the objective of sustainable development. And, because time is of the essence.
• The forecast is that energy demand will move on an upward curve; indigenous supplies will fail to keep pace with this increase in demand; energy imports will rise in absolute and relative terms, and, the environment will face increasing stress.
• More specifically, coal will dominate, oil and gas will have significance; air pollution, depleting water tables and extreme weather conditions will presage ecological collapse.
• Most recent energy outlook published just a few weeks back.

India’s energy outlook

• It avers that in 2040, fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) will account for between 70-75 per cent of India’s primary energy consumption — down from approximately 90 per cent today.
• Of that, coal will account for 45 per cent (down from the current 55 per cent); oil 20 per cent (down from 30 per cent today) and natural gas at the same levels as today of around seven per cent.
• Renewables market share will increase to 15 per cent up from the current 3-4 per cent.
• Consequently, India will import 95 per cent of its oil requirements; 60 per cent of its gas requirements and 30 per cent of its coal requirements (despite the fact that it contains the fifth largest deposits of coal in the world).
• India will meet its Paris commitments to reduce GHG emissions by 35 per cent in 2035 relative to 2005.
• But, given this level of fossil fuel consumption, it will be one of the largest absolute emitters of pollutants in the world.
• Coal is abundantly available — it is the cheapest of fuels and there are no competitive substitutes for liquids as a fuel for mobility.
• “Intermittency” (the sun does not shine all the time; nor does the wind blow with regularity) are huge.

What it needs to?

• The Energy economics needs to be redefined.
• Two decades back, the US was the largest importer of liquid fuels in the world.
• Policies were contrived to reduce this dependence but no one imagined that the US would ever secure self-sufficiency.
• Today, the US is the largest producer of liquids in the world.
• More extraordinary, it is now placing approximately 2,00,000 barrels a day of oil into the global market.
• “What institutional, economic, technological, financial and collaborative steps must be taken to flip the ratio between fossils and renewables in the energy basket of emergent India?”

Way forward

• here will be no clear answer but such questions will at least enhance the chances of finding a path off the currently trodden track of fossil fuels.
• A general equilibrium macro model is required that captures such linkages and enables decision-makers to consider the systemic implications of changes in one or more of these variables.
• We have to create the appropriate institutional structures of decision-making.
• The current structure of multiple “energy” ministries (petroleum, coal, renewables, power, atomic) should be collapsed into one omnibus Ministry of Energy and Environment.
• Finally, it comes as “Energy and Environment Security” Act.
• The purpose should be to engage the public in the larger debate on how to weaken if not break the current unhealthy nexus between economic growth, energy demand and environmental degradation.
• It should be to elevate the objective of wreaking an energy “discontinuity” into a national priority.

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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) The term 'Prompt Corrective Action' often seen in news, refers to:
(a) adopting innovative construction technologies for building affordable house at rapid rate.
(b) improving financial and socio-economic status of old age artisans and scholars.
(c) transforming and expanding Indian firms into Multi-National companies.
(d) taking corrective actions on banks in order to restore their financial health.

Answer: D

Mains Questions:
Q.1) INDIA HAS MADE REMARKABLE STRIDES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY DURING THE RECENT YEARS, WHICH HAS EMERGED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SOLUTION TO NATIONS ENERGY NEEDS. DISCUSS THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS DIRECTION.