India Ranks Third in Renewable Energy Installations in 2021

GS Paper 3

Syllabus: Infrastructure – Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context:

India ranked third in renewable energy installations in 2021, after China and Russia, according to a Renewable 2022 Global status report published by REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century).

What does the report say:

• On India:
  • India installed 15.4 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects in 2021
  • India ranked fourth in total solar installations (60.4 GW) for the year – overtaking Germany (59.2 GW) for the first time.

• On world: Overall countries added around 3,146 GW of total installed renewable power capacity in 2021 – a rise of 11% from the previous year.
• On Target of renewables: Despite the rise in installed capacity, the share of renewables in global energy use stagnated in 2021. The renewable energy capacities achieved so far come nowhere close to the targets required to keep the world on track to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
• On impact of pandemic: Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, renewables saw a year of record growth in both investment and installation.
• On impact of Ukrain crisis: The invasion of Ukraine added to the energy crisis. Governments, however, responded by increasing fossil fuel production and subsidies. This has caused a record surge in carbon dioxide emissions (up by 6%, adding more than two billion tonnes).

India’s Efforts:

• India has announced a target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030through sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, wind and hydropower.
  • Currently, projects worth almost $197 billion are underway in India.
• India extended its national solar production programme, which provides incentives to domestic and international companies for setting up battery manufacturing plants.
• In 2021, after India increased its cap on solar PV installations under its net metering scheme, the country’s rooftop PV market hit a record high.
• Other Government Programmes: Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, Green Open Access Rules (which facilitates the generation, purchase and consumption of green energy including that produced by waste-to-energy plants), Green Term Ahead and Day-Ahead Market etc.

Prelims and Mains Links:

Basics of climate change: Click here

India’s Renewable energy plan: Click here

India’s solar capacity: Milestones and challenges

India’s Stand at COP-26: Click here

Practice Questions:

Q. “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by (UPSC 2018)

(a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

(b) The UNEP Secretariat

(c) The UNFCCC Secretariat

(d) The World Meterological Organisation

Answer: C

Q. With reference to ‘Global Climate Change Alliance’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. It is an initiative of the European Union.
2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets.
3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Q. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2015)

1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Q. “Despite increase in renewable energy capacity, India still heavily depends on fossil fuels for its energy security”. What measures need to be taken to increase the pace of renewable adoption in India? Discuss. (15M)

Sources: The Wire, REN21