04-January-2025-Editorial

INDIA’S RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY ROADMAP 2030

Renewable energy is the cornerstone of India’s transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable future. With a current wind power capacity of 47.95 GW, India is taking significant steps to double this capacity to 100 GW by 2030.

To achieve its broader target of 500 GW non-fossil energy, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is urging states to facilitate land access for renewable energy projects, especially wind power.

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy comes from natural, replenishable sources like sunlight, wind, water, and biomass.

These energy sources are sustainable, eco-friendly, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Types of Renewable Energy

1. Solar Energy: Generated using solar panels or thermal systems by harnessing sunlight.
2. Wind Energy: Converts wind’s kinetic energy into electricity using wind turbines.
3. Hydropower: Produced from flowing water, such as rivers or dams.
4. Biomass Energy: Created from organic waste materials like crop residues or animal waste.
5. Geothermal Energy: Utilizes Earth’s internal heat to generate electricity and direct heating.
6. Tidal and Wave Energy: Uses ocean currents and waves to produce electricity.

India’s Renewable Energy Status

Current Capacity

• Total Renewable Capacity: 158.55 GW (as of November 2024).
• Wind Power: 47.96 GW, with 2.07 GW added in FY 2024-25.
• Solar Power: 94.17 GW, including grid-connected and off-grid solutions.
• Small Hydro Power: 5.08 GW from small river projects.
• Biomass Energy: 10.72 GW, largely from bagasse-based cogeneration.
• Waste-to-Energy: 0.61 GW from utilizing urban and industrial waste.

India’s Potential for Renewable Energy

Solar Energy

• Potential: 748 GW (using 3% of wasteland).
• States like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu lead in solar parks and projects.

Wind Energy

• Potential: Over 300 GW.
• Coastal states such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka dominate.
• Offshore wind projects in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are emerging as significant opportunities.

Hydropower

• Potential: Over 148 GW, with 46 GW still untapped.
• Small hydropower plants (<25 MW) offer an additional 20 GW potential.

Geothermal Energy

• Potential: 10 GW from regions like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
• Puga Valley in Ladakh is a key geothermal site under development.

Ocean Energy

• Potential: 40 GW from wave energy along coasts like the Gulf of Kutch and Sundarbans.

Challenges in Expanding Renewable Energy in India

Land Availability and Conflicts

• Difficulty in acquiring suitable land for wind and solar projects.
• Resistance from local communities and fragmented land ownership hinder project development.

High Costs and Financing Issues

• Wind energy projects require substantial upfront investment.
• Long payback periods and uncertain returns deter private investors.

Grid Integration Challenges

• Wind energy’s intermittent supply affects grid stability.
• Curtailments during peak production seasons reduce profitability.

Exhaustion of Optimal Sites

• Prime locations with high wind speeds are already occupied, pushing new projects to less viable areas.

Policy and Approval Delays

• Long delays in obtaining environmental, forest, and wildlife clearances.
• Inconsistent policies across states reduce investor confidence.

Offshore Wind Development

• High installation costs and limited government support hinder offshore wind projects.

India’s Initiatives to Boost Renewable Energy

• PM-KUSUM: Promotes solar-powered irrigation systems and grid-connected solar plants on agricultural lands.
• PLI Scheme for Solar PV Modules: Incentivizes local manufacturing of solar modules.
• Solar Parks: Develops large-scale solar parks across states.
• National Green Hydrogen Mission: Focuses on producing hydrogen using renewable energy.
• Green Energy Corridor: Strengthens transmission infrastructure for renewable projects.
• National Bioenergy Program: Promotes biomass-based power generation.
• FDI in Renewable Energy: Encourages foreign investments in the sector.

Way Forward

Improving Land Access

• Formulate transparent policies for acquiring government and private lands.
• Promote dual-use models where renewable projects coexist with agriculture.

Strengthening Transmission Infrastructure

• Develop green energy corridors to connect renewable projects with demand centers.
• Invest in hybrid systems combining solar, wind, and storage to stabilize supply.

Policy Harmonization

• Create a unified national renewable energy policy to reduce state-level inconsistencies.
• Offer long-term incentives like tax breaks and interest subsidies to attract investments.

Promoting Offshore Wind Energy

• Launch pilot offshore wind projects and provide financial incentives.
• Reduce import duties on specialized equipment for offshore installations.

Enhancing Financing and Research

• Establish green banks to provide affordable loans.
• Invest in advanced technologies to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Ensuring Sustainability and Local Participation

• Conduct environmental assessments for renewable projects.
• Engage local communities to ensure equitable land-use practices and benefits.

Conclusion

India’s ambitious renewable energy goals require a focused approach to address challenges like land availability, financing, and policy gaps. By leveraging its vast potential and implementing forward-looking strategies, India can transition to a cleaner energy future while achieving its 2030 targets.