What is India's stance regarding renewable energy?
- India is the world's third-largest consumer of energy.
- According to the Renewables 2022 Global Status Report, India ranks fourth globally in installed renewable energy capacity, fourth in wind power capacity, and fourth in solar power capacity.
- India has already met its goal of achieving 40% of installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
Targets
- India has set a new target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030, which is the largest expansion plan for renewable energy in the world.
- Additionally, India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
- However, India has not committed to phasing out coal due to priorities such as poverty reduction and economic growth.
India has taken several steps to promote renewable energy:
- National Green Hydrogen Mission focuses on employment, import substitution, and R&D in renewable energy.
- PM KUSUM scheme ensures energy security for farmers and increases non-fossil fuel power capacity to 40% by 2030.
- India allows up to 100% Foreign Direct Investment in renewable energy projects.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aims to enhance India's manufacturing and exports in the solar sector.
- Green Energy Corridors establish transmission systems for renewable energy projects.
- The International Solar Alliance aims to deploy solar energy solutions globally.
- Green carbon credits are proposed to create carbon sinks through public participation.
Despite these efforts, India faces challenges in increasing renewable energy:
- High Costs and Storage Challenges Hinder Solar Power Expansion: The coal-based power plants require an initial investment of about Rs. 4 crores per MW, while in solar power plants with a capacity of 15% requirement is Rs. 18 crores in investments. Thus due to the high cost, many opt for investment in coal-based power plants.
- Low Investment: High transmission and distribution (T&D) losses, which have plagued discoms for decades, prevent them from making decisive investments to support renewable energy, keeping them locked into existing fleet of coal-fired power plants. Further questions around the costs and frictions associated with coal mining, transportation livelihoods, and rehabilitation of those affected need to be addressed which make transition less painful.
- Weather Dependency: Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and tidal power depend on specific weather conditions. If favourable weather is unavailable, these sources can become inefficient and not feasible.
- Land Acquisition: Most renewable energy plants require large areas of land, which introduces issues related to the cost of acquiring such vast tracts and other land acquisition challenges. Additionally, the distance between the renewable energy source and the grid increases both the cost and the efficiency challenges of renewable energy.
- Environmental Problems: The turbines contribute to noise pollution and have also been responsible for bird fatalities during operation.
- Dependence on Solar Panels: India has heavily relied on importing solar cells and modules, mainly from China and Vietnam, to meet its solar energy requirements.
Way Forward
- Large-scale renewable energy development can avoid reproducing the injustices of past large-scale infrastructure projects, while being sensitive to developmental objectives.
- Experimenting with ownership models is one approach. The parks need not necessarily be owned by the state or private companies. Community initiatives could help generate revenues for the communities, further promoting small businesses and upskilling, improving incomes, stimulating local economies, and improving energy access.
- Solar and wind park development is exempted from Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. The legal and regulatory architecture must be revised and strengthened to limit adverse social and environmental consequences.
- In terms of impacts on small and medium landowners where private land is being used, there is no mechanism to monitor if a fair price is paid to those leasing their land. Involving local governance units in the planning and siting processes can provide an opportunity to align local developmental objectives with solar park development.
- Wasteland classification needs a significant overhaul. Recognition of commons under the FRA would help improve environmental and equity outcomes by granting land ownership to communities dependent on commons. If such land is to be leased or acquired for solar parks, solar park development corporations will have to engage with local governance units such as the Gram Sabha to initiate the project.
- Encouraging research and experimenting with ‘agrivoltaics’ is another way to think about sustainably developing renewable energy. Agrivoltaics pair solar with agriculture, creating energy and providing space for crops, grazing, and native habitats under and between panels. Thus, farmers can grow crops while also being ‘prosumers’ — producers and consumers — of energy.
- Large-scale renewable energy projects could have positive employment outcomes at the district level, but they lead to massive employment shifts between sectors at the national level. Adequate skilling and training programmes targeting the unskilled and poorer populations are essential to protect them.
Conclusion
- We are at the cusp of a second green revolution, this time involving energy. We have an opportunity to anticipate the unintended consequences of this revolution, and align our technological, economic, and institutional structures to maximise synergies between sustainability, climate change mitigation, and development related outcomes.