Context

• India stands at a crossroads of development, grappling with the dual challenge of meeting its soaring energy demands while addressing the pressing concerns of climate change and environmental degradation. 
• With a population of over 1.4 billion and being the fastest-growing major economy, the need for a sustainable and secure energy supply has never been more critical for the country. 

Government Measures

• As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, India has committed to reducing its carbon emissions  and playing its part in combating climate change. 
• The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), introduced in 2008, laid the groundwork for the country’s sustainable development goals. 
• Under the NAPCC, several national missions were launched, each focusing on a specific sector that contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation. 
• Among these missions, the launch of the National Solar Mission has been a watershed moment in the renewable energy story of the country. Launched in 2010, this mission aimed to promote the deployment of solar energy technologies and reduce the cost of solar power generation. 
• India has recently revised its target for renewable energy: 500 GW of installed electricity generation capacity through non-fossil fuels by the year 2030. 
• A total of 172 GW of renewable capacity has been installed by the end of FY 2023. The share of renewable energy in the generation mix increased from 17.2% in FY 2014 to 22.5% in FY 2023. 
• Today, India has the 4th highest installed RE capacity globally. India also ranks 4th in terms of global wind and bioenergy installed capacity, while it ranks 5th in solar installed capacity.
• The Government has also launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) in 2023 with a target of 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum production capacity by 2030. 
• To improve skilling in the sector, over 32,000 persons have been trained under the Suryamitra programme. Vayumitra for wind power projects and Jal-Urjamitra for small hydro plants have also been launched and training programmes are underway.  

Challenges and the Path Ahead  

• While India’s energy transition has been remarkable, it is not without challenges. 
• One of  the primary concerns is the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind. 
• Balancing electricity supply and demand becomes complex due to fluctuations in generation.  
• The adoption of advanced energy storage technologies, such as batteries and pumped hydro storage, is essential to store excess energy during peak generation periods and release it during low generation times. 
• Moreover, the integration of renewable energy into the existing grid infrastructure requires significant investments and upgrades. 
• The development of a robust transmission network capable of handling intermittent and decentralised energy sources is crucial to maintaining grid stability and reliability. 
• In addition to these, following challenges have also been witnessed in the implementation of RE schemes and programmes: 
  • Availability of land;
  • Regulatory Issues such as Compliance of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO), Timely adoption of tariff by State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs), Avoiding levy of additional charges by the States, etc. 

Economic and Environmental Implications 

• The transition to renewable sources of electricity generation carries numerous economic and environmental implications. 
• On the economic front, the growth of the renewable energy sector would stimulate job creation, spur technological innovation, and attract foreign investment.
• Further, a decrease in fossil fuel imports would enhance energy security and reduce the vulnerability of the economy to global energy market fluctuations. 
• Environmentally, the shift away from fossil fuels significantly reduces carbon emissions, mitigates air pollution, and safeguards public health. 

Conclusion 

• As India navigates the complexities of grid integration, energy storage, and infrastructure development, collaboration between the public and private sectors will be crucial. 
• International partnerships, technological advancements, and skilled workforce development will play pivotal roles in shaping the trajectory of the energy transition. 
• By embracing renewable sources of electricity generation, India stands poised to lead by example, contributing to the global fight against climate change and inspiring nations around the world to follow suit.