(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Renewable Energy Making India Self-Sufficient

(September-2023)

Renewable Energy Making India Self-Sufficient

Context:

India is the fastest-growing economy globally and has overtaken the UK to become the 5th largest economy in the world. The country imports more than 80% of its crude oil for energy requirements from outside sources and is the 4th largest emitter of CO2. India has a target to cut carbon emissions by 1 billion ton by 2030 and achieve net-zero emission status by 2070. As India needs to work on the carbon-intensive sector, it is taking steps in the same direction by using new technology and working on it to achieve net zero emissions, and also the goal of integrating 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030.

Why Renewable Energy?

Power supply: Providing 24*7 power supply to 100% of the households and sustainable forms of transport, are some of the goals that can only be achieved through sustainable power that comes from renewables.
Market assurance: From an economic point of view, renewable sources provide the market and revenue assurance that no other resources can provide.
Employment opportunities: The Inclusion of newer technology simply means more employment opportunities for the working population of the country.
Sustainable: Energy generated from renewable sources is cleaner, greener, and more sustainable.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme

The Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) is another feather in the cap of the Government with respect to enhancing the importance of the manufacturing sector. The scheme proposes a financial incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the electronics value chain, including electronic components and semiconductor
packaging.
Solarisation of water pumps is a step in providing distributed power at the doorstep of the consumers. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on its website also hosts Akshay Urja Portal and India Renewable Idea Exchange (IRIX) Portal, which promotes the exchange of ideas among energy conscious Indians and the Global community.

Other important steps taken by Government are as under:

Permitting Foreign Direct Investment up to 100 per cent under the automatic route.
Waiver of inter-state transmission charges on transmission of electricity generated from solar and wind sources of energy, for projects commissioned up to 30 June 2025.
Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and transmission to renewable energy developers on a plug and play basis.
Laying of new transmission lines and creating new sub-station capacity under the Green Energy Corridor Scheme for evacuation of renewable
power.
Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV and Wind Projects.
Announcement of National Green Hydrogen Mission.
ESO targets as a percentage of total consumption of electricity has been laid down for the year up to 2029-30.
‘Must-run’ status to solar and wind power as per clause 5.2(u) of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission Regulations, 2010.
Bio-CNG vehicles with 20% blending in petrol is also a target the Government has been chasing. The Conversion of energy from Biomass is a considerable option, as it will clean the cities as well as reduce our energy dependence. In fact, the fuels produced from biomass have a high calorific value and are cleaner than traditional biomass.

Hydrogen based FCV: Hydrogen in technology is likely to change the landscape of renewables, shifting towards Hydrogen Based Fuel Cells Vehicles (FCV) is another area of focus.

Grid Integration: It is the practice of developing efficient ways to deliver variable renewable energy (RE) to the grid. Identifying the demands that are in tune with the characteristics of the renewables, focusing on the characteristics of the renewables mainly solar and wind, and considering their variability as a strength rather than a weakness.

24*7 Power Supply: A sustainable, round-theclock power supply, along with the storage system, is a big challenge ahead. Agricultural Sector: Much power is consumed in the agricultural sector. The challenge is to provide sufficient power and energy to every household and to the agricultural sector as well.

With a view to accelerating the progress, the following steps need to be taken:
Identification of areas: Renewable resources, especially wind, cannot be set up everywhere, they require specific location. Identification of these specific locations, integration of these with the main grid and distribution of powers; a combination of these three is what will take India forward.

Exploration: More storage solutions need to be explored.

Agriculture Subsidy: Agricultural subsidies should be rectified in order to ensure that only the required amount of energy is consumed.

Hydrogen fuel cell-based vehicles and Electric vehicles: These are the most suitable options when it comes to shifting towards renewable sources of energy, that’s where we need to work upon.

Conclusion:

Sustainable development is possible through the use of sustainable energy and by ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for citizens. Strong government support and an increasingly favourable economic situation have pushed India to be one of the top leaders in the world’s most attractive renewable energy markets. The Government has designed policies, programmes, and a liberal environment to attract foreign investments and ramp up the country’s presence in the renewable energy market at a rapid rate.