The Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized sustainable and renewable energy sources to meet the country's growing energy needs while also supporting farmers and rural communities. Some key initiatives and facts regarding India's renewable energy goals and programs include:
Solar Energy
- India aims to reach 175 gigawatts (GW) of installed renewable energy capacity by 2022, including 100 GW of solar capacity addition. As of September 2022, India had over 60 GW of installed solar energy capacity, making it the third largest solar market globally.
- The PM-KUSUM scheme aims to provide solar pumps to farmers to replace diesel pumps, enable farmers to sell excess solar power to the grid, and develop decentralized solar power plants. As of May 2022, over 1.75 lakh solar pumps have been installed under the scheme.
- Solar parks and ultra mega solar parks are being developed across India to facilitate large-scale solar power generation. As of June 2022, there were 55 solar parks across 21 states with a combined capacity of over 16 GW.
- Rooftop solar initiatives like the SRISTI scheme provide subsidies to households, businesses and organizations to install rooftop solar systems and enable decentralized, clean energy access. Over 6 GW of rooftop solar capacity has been installed as of March 2022.
Wind Energy
- India aims to reach 140 GW of installed wind energy capacity by 2030. As of March 2022, the installed wind power capacity was over 40 GW across many states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Karnataka.
- Offshore wind energy is an emerging sector with a goal of 5 GW capacity by 2022 and 30 GW by 2030. India commissioned its first offshore wind project in Gujarat in 2022.
- Wind-solar hybrid projects are also being set up to optimize land use and improve grid integration of renewables. As of December 2021, there were over 1.2 GW of wind-solar hybrid projects.
Bioenergy
- Under the SATAT initiative, India targets production of 5 billion kg of compressed biogas from agricultural residues and municipal solid waste by 2023-24. This provides an additional income source for farmers while managing waste.
- Biogas plants are being set up across India to produce biogas from cattle dung, agricultural waste, municipal waste etc. As of March 2022, there were over 63 lakh biogas plants installed under the National Biogas and Manure Management Programme.
- Waste to energy plants are also being developed to generate electricity from municipal solid waste in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Hydro and Geothermal Energy
- India has an estimated hydropower potential of over 150 GW, of which around 50 GW has been harnessed so far. Large hydropower projects as well as smaller, off-grid hydro projects are being developed.
- India has geothermal energy potential in seven states. Exploratory drilling and pre-feasibility studies are being conducted to harness geothermal energy.
Key Government Initiatives
- The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is the nodal ministry to drive the growth and adoption of renewables across India. Programs like PM-KUSUM, wind and solar park schemes, biogas initiatives etc. are administered by MNRE.
- State electricity boards like SECI, NTPC, Solar Energy Corporation of India etc. are also major implementing agencies for large solar and wind projects.
- Phase II of the FAME scheme provides subsidies to purchase electric vehicles and set up charging infrastructure to drive India's e-mobility transition.
- The Renewable Purchase Obligation mandates distribution companies to source a share of their electricity supply from renewable sources. The RPO target is currently 10.5% and will rise to meet India's 2030 goals.
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency implements energy efficiency initiatives across industries, transport, buildings etc. to reduce wasteful energy consumption.
- State policies also drive rooftop solar adoption, solar farming incentives, renewable energy tariffs and net metering policies.
International Cooperation
- The International Solar Alliance, headquartered in India, is a coalition of over 100 countries to promote solar power adoption, especially across solar-rich regions.
- India has collaborated on renewable projects and research with countries like the US, Germany, UK, Australia etc. Areas include smart grid tech, energy storage, offshore wind etc.
- Foreign companies are also investing in India's renewable energy market across manufacturing, project development and operations.
- India receives climate financing from global funds like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank etc. for renewable energy expansion.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Some key challenges as India scales up its renewable energy adoption:
- Land acquisition and evacuation infrastructure for large solar and wind parks
- Integration of variable renewable power into the grid requires investments in flexible generation, forecasting capabilities, storage solutions etc.
- Continued subsidies and financing mechanisms needed for rooftop solar and off-grid renewables to reach underserved regions
- Developing domestic manufacturing across the solar and wind supply chains to reduce import reliance
- Building robust transmission networks including green energy corridors to connect renewable energy clusters with load centers
- Maintaining grid stability and reliability as conventional power is increasingly replaced by intermittent renewable power
- Retraining personnel across operations, maintenance and power distribution for the renewable energy transition
However, India is projected to meet and even exceed its ambitious 2030 renewable energy targets through sustained policy support, public and private investments, new technologies like energy storage and green hydrogen, and a nationwide push towards sustainable and self-reliant energy. India is already among the top renewable energy markets globally and will continue to be a leader in the global clean energy transition. Stronger international cooperation, responsible industrial growth and community participation will also aid India in achieving its renewable energy and climate change mitigation goals.
Here are some more details on major national and international renewable energy projects and collaborations that India is pursuing:
National Projects
- The Green Energy Corridor project aims to strengthen India's transmission grids to support renewable energy evacuation from production centers to load centers across different states. It involves constructing over 10,800 circuit kilometers of transmission lines along with substations and other infrastructure.
- Hybrid renewable projects like the proposed 60 GW Ladakh hybrid scheme will combine solar, wind and hydro power to provide round-the-clock clean energy. India aims for 175 GW of hybrid capacity by 2022.
- R&D projects under the National Institute of Solar Energy focus on next-gen solar cell technologies, pumped hydro and battery storage innovations, solar forecasting models and other emerging solutions.
- Waste-to-energy projects under the Swachh Bharat Mission convert municipal solid waste into electricity. Major initiatives are underway in Delhi, Hyderabad, Jabalpur etc.
- The National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme implements demo biogas plants across India to promote adoption of biogas for cooking, lighting and motive power.
International Collaborations
- ISA's One Sun One World One Grid initiative plans to transfer solar power between regions and continents via transnational grids. India is collaborating with the UK and World Bank on this $1 billion project.
- India and France are partnering under the International Solar Alliance to develop solar projects across Africa for clean electrification.
- With Germany, India has an agreement for €1 billion in concessional loans to fund renewable energy and grid modernization projects.
- Under the Indo-US Clean Energy Finance initiative, USOPIC will provide $5 billion in funding for India's renewable energy investments.
- The US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership focuses on electric vehicles, smart grids, energy storage and green hydrogen.
- Australia and India partnered to build the world's largest solar-wind hybrid park at Khavda, Gujarat under Australia's SUNRISE project.
- The UK-India Green Growth Equity Fund anchors £240 million for India's renewable energy sector.
- India collaborates with European Investment Bank, World Bank, KfW etc. on large solar and wind park financing.
- Partnerships with Germany, Denmark, Sweden etc. focus on offshore wind power, ocean energy and cleantech.
Thus India is actively pursuing diverse collaborations across R&D, financing, technology transfer and joint projects to realize its renewable energy goals, while also emerging as a key participant in the global energy transition.
Here are some additional details on major renewable energy projects and international collaborations:
National Projects
- The Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) scheme plans 14 renewables parks each with over 500 MW capacity and ultramodern transmission systems. 5 parks have been approved so far.
- The Suryamitra program by NISE has trained over 100,000 technicians in installation, maintenance and audits for solar PV systems, enabling skills development and job creation.
- SECI tendered 2 GW of manufacturing-linked solar projects in 2021 to incentivize domestic module manufacturing. Another 4 GW tender is planned under the PLI scheme.
- NTPC aims to install 10 GW renewable capacity by 2022 and over 60 GW by 2032 including floating and offshore wind projects.
- NLC India plans to develop 3 GW of solar capacity across Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
International Collaborations
- The US Trade and Development Agency provided a $1 million grant to SECI for hybrid renewable pilot projects with battery storage.
- India and the UK launched a $15.46 million joint research program on affordable solar energy and battery technologies.
- Under the Indo-Swiss Collaboration on Climate Resilient Cities, Swiss agencies will support India’s urban rooftop solar program.
- The Asian Development Bank committed $653 million for a 250 MW solar park in Rajasthan and grid upgrades for renewables evacuation.
- The World Bank approved $100 million for rooftop solar projects across industrial and commercial buildings in India.
- The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency partners with agencies like JICA, KfW, AFD etc. for low-cost financing of renewable energy expansion.
- Under the Indo-Australian hydrogen partnership, Australia will help India develop its green hydrogen economy and exports.
Thus, India continues to initiate ambitious national programs and tap global expertise and funding to unlock its massive renewable energy potential across solar, wind, bioenergy and hydrogen domains.
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