Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.
Context
International Energy Agency (IEA) has urged governments to pledge to triple the global capacity of renewables by 2030 in preparation for COP 28. However, some major participants have not yet committed to this pledge.
Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge:
- The pledge is led by the US, European Union, and UAE.
- The aim is to achieve net-zero emission by mid-century (2050).
- The pledge calls for the phase-down of unabated coal power and an end to the financing of new coal-fired power plants. This is seen as a crucial step to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as agreed in the Paris Agreement.
- The target is to triple worldwide installed renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 GW.
- It also aims to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements to more than 4% by 2030.
- The pledge was signed at COP 28 in Dubai.
- Major non-signatory countries include India and China.
- According to IEA projections, the global share of renewables in power generation is anticipated to jump from 28% in 2021 to 80% by 2050, while coal’s contribution will dwindle to 3%.
- The primary renewable energy sources with their share in global power generation are:
- Hydroelectric: 16.1%
- Wind: 5.6%
- Solar: 3.8%
Challenges of increasing renewables energy:
- Hydroelectric Power
- Construction Challenges: Large dams are difficult to construct due to environmental and regulatory issues.
- Unrealistic Goal: Around 57% of hydroelectric power is of renewable energy, but tripling its capacity by 2030 is unlikely.
- Solar Power
- Limitations: It is limited by daylight hours, land availability, environmental impacts, and import dependence.
- High Cost: Solar panels also need efficient and costly storage solutions to match peak demand and overcome intermittency.
- Import Dependency: Many countries depend on China for solar panels or raw materials, which increases the import costs.
- Wind Energy
- Weather Dependence: Wind energy is affected by weather conditions, site availability, and material emissions.
- Structural Issues: Wind turbines also face the problem of intermittency and require backup or storage solutions to provide stable power.
- Renewable Energy Goals
- Renewable energy by 2030, the solar and wind output must increase by at least 5 times.
- Fossil Fuel Issues
- COP 28 Pledge: The COP 28 pledge does not specify reducing fossil fuels, which cause over 80% of greenhouse emissions. The US and other countries still subsidize and use fossil fuels extensively.
- Financial Challenges
- Fund Deficit: The transition to renewables requires massive investments, which can burden poorer countries and affect their budgets for essential services.
India’s stand with respect renewable energy:
- India’s Status
- Energy Consumption: India is the 3rd largest energy consuming country in the world.
- Global Ranking: As per the Renewables 2022 Global Status Report, India stands 4th globally in renewable energy installed capacity, wind power capacity, and solar power capacity.
- Achieved Target: India has already achieved its target of 40% installed electric capacity from non-fossil fuels.
- Renewable Energy Target
- Enhanced Target: India has set an enhanced target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030, which is the world’s largest expansion plan in renewable energy.
- Carbon Neutrality
- Pledge: India has also pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
- Tripling Renewables Proposal
- Investment Requirement: India didn’t sign the pledge as a report has found that India would need an investment of about 293 billion dollars to triple its renewable energy installed capacity by 2030.
- Reliance on Coal
- Coal Phase Out: India is not comfortable with the coal phase out target as it needs to focus on poverty reduction and economic growth, hence it did not sign the pledge.
Steps taken by India to promote Renewable Energy:
- National Green Hydrogen Mission
- Focus: This mission concentrates on direct and indirect employment, import substitution, and R&D for higher efficiency in renewable energy technologies.
- PM KUSUM Scheme
- Aim: It is aimed at ensuring energy security for farmers in India, along with honouring India’s commitment to increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources to 40% by 2030 as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
- Investment
- FDI: India allows up to 100% Foreign Direct Investment under the automatic route for renewable energy generation and distribution projects.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI)
- Goal: This scheme for high efficiency solar aims to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities and exports in the solar sector.
- Green Energy Corridors
- Purpose: It is established to create an intra-state transmission system for renewable energy projects.
- International Solar Alliance
- Joint Effort: It is a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against climate change through the deployment of solar energy solutions with an aim of One Sun, One World, One Grid.
- Green Carbon Credits
- Proposal: It is proposed by India to create carbon sinks through people’s participation.
Way forward:
- Expand Green Energy Infrastructure: India could further invest in expanding its green energy infrastructure, particularly in rural and remote areas. This could involve building more solar and wind farms, as well as improving the grid infrastructure to handle the increased capacity.
- Promote Research and Development: India could increase funding for research and development in renewable energy technologies. This could lead to breakthroughs in efficiency and cost-effectiveness, making renewable energy more accessible and affordable.
- Strengthen International Collaborations: India could seek to strengthen its international collaborations in the field of renewable energy. This could involve sharing knowledge and best practices, as well as joint research projects.
- Public Awareness and Education: India could also invest in public awareness campaigns and education programs to promote the benefits of renewable energy and encourage more people to use it.
Source: The Hindu
Practice Question
Discuss the potential of renewable energy as a tool for sustainable development in India. What are the challenges faced in harnessing this potential and what measures should be taken to overcome these challenges? Substantiate your answer with suitable examples. (250 words)