Context: India is the third highest energy consumer in the world. As India’s economy is expanding, India faces twin challenges- meeting growing energy demand and production of sustainable energy. In this context, India can rely on two alternatives - Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen as an energy source, to achieve a net-zero economy
Relevance of the Topic: Mains: Alternatives to meet the growing Energy demand of India.
India’s Net-Zero Imperative
- Presently, the power sector is dominated by fossil fuels (particularly coal) which is used to generate electricity, provide heat and molecules for industrial processes (carbon is used to reduce iron ore to produce steel).
- The goal of achieving a net-zero economy by 2070 can be realised only by massive electrification of end uses of energy (from transport to industry).
- Solar and wind electricity cannot provide all the electricity that India needs owing to their intermittency, and thus India has to increase the share of non-polluting alternatives like Nuclear Energy and Green Hydrogen, in its energy mix.
Crucial Role of Nuclear Energy
- India has set an aspirational target to reach 100 GW of installed capacity based on nuclear power by 2047. As of January 2025, India’s nuclear capacity is 8.18 GW (8180 MW).
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) has announced an ambitious programme to set up several 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). (E.g., 26 units of 700 MW capacity are announced/set to be completed in upcoming years)
- Many PSUs and departments such as the Indian Railways are looking to deploy nuclear power plants. NPCIL has invited proposals from the industry for setting up 220 MW PHWRs (Bharat Small Reactors) for its captive use.
Also Read: Nuclear Energy Sector in Union Budget 2025-26
Green Hydrogen or Low-carbon Hydrogen
- In the coming years, the share of electricity provided by low-carbon sources (hydro, nuclear, solar and wind) will increase.
- Excess/surplus energy can be used to produce green hydrogen or low-carbon hydrogen. It will solve the dual problem of storing excess energy and production of sustainable energy (green hydrogen).
- Electrolysers are low-cost equipment and can be operated at different power levels. This hydrogen can be used to meet the energy demand of the end-use industry.
As India races towards the net-zero economy by 2070, India needs a robust energy policy that focuses on expanding Nuclear Energy and leverage low-carbon Hydrogen to handle/utilise surplus energy and meet energy needs.
Also Read: Hydrogen as an alternative fuel: Explained