Renewable Energy

 Syllabus: Renewable energy

 Source: PIB

 Context: India has reached a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey, with the country’s total renewable energy capacity crossing the 200 GW (gigawatt) mark as of October 10, 2024.

India’s renewable energy targets:

• By 2030: Achieve 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
• Net-Zero by 2070: As per India’s commitments at COP26.

Present status of renewable energy in India (as of October 2024):

Government steps:

1. National Green Hydrogen Mission: Focuses on developing green hydrogen to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy security.
2. PM-KUSUM: Provides solar irrigation pumps to farmers, promoting solar energy use in agriculture.
3. PLI Schemes: Encourages domestic manufacturing of solar PV modules by offering production-linked incentives.
4. 100% FDI: Allows full foreign direct investment in renewable energy through the automatic route to attract capital.
5. Waiver of ISTS Charges: Exempts renewable projects from inter-state transmission system charges until June 2025 to promote clean energy growth.
6. Renewable Purchase Obligation: Mandates power utilities to purchase a set percentage of their energy from renewable sources until 2029-30.
7. Viability Gap Funding: Provides financial assistance for offshore wind energy projects to make them commercially viable.
8. Green Energy Open Access Rules 2022: Facilitates easier access to renewable energy for businesses, promoting greater usage.

 Challenges of renewable energy:

1. High upfront costs: Significant initial investments are required for solar and wind energy infrastructure, which can be prohibitive.
2. Intermittency & variability: Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are dependent on weather and time, making them less predictable.
3. Infrastructure needs: Renewable energy projects require large areas of land and skilled technicians for installation and maintenance.
4. Policy & Regulatory hurdles: Inconsistent policies and bureaucratic delays create uncertainty and slow project implementation.
5. Raw material access: The renewable sector faces shortages of rare earth materials critical for manufacturing technologies.
6. Geographical disparities: Renewable resources like wind and solar are unevenly distributed across regions, limiting adoption in certain areas.

Way ahead:

1. Technological advancements: Invest in energy storage solutions and smart grids to manage renewable energy variability.
2. Policy consistency: Develop stable, long-term policies to create a favorable investment environment in the renewable sector.
3. Capacity building: Enhance training programs for skilled technicians to ensure smooth deployment and maintenance of renewable energy systems.
4. International collaboration: Foster partnerships with global entities to access technology and raw materials, boosting the renewable energy sector.

Conclusion:

            India’s renewable energy journey has reached a significant milestone, marked by the impressive achievement of over 200 GW of installed capacity. This accomplishment is a testament to the nation’s commitment to a sustainable energy future, driven by a diverse array of renewable sources, including solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy.

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