Gist of Kurukshetra February 2023 Issue: Renewable Resources

Kurukshetra Magazine is a vital source of study material for the UPSC IAS exam. It is a monthly magazine that gives information about important government schemes and programmes in various sectors. Kurukshetra is an authentic source of information for the UPSC Exam. Here, we provide the Gist of Kurukshetra, exclusively for the IAS Exam.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Sustainable Development through Renewable Resources
2. Powering Growth in Agriculture Sector
3. Decarbonisation of Transport Sector
4. Mitigating Environmental Issues
5. Public Awareness About Renewable Energy Sources
6. Transition to Clean Energy
7. Renewable Energy Transforming Rural Women
8. India: A Green Hydrogen Global Hub

Chapter 1: Sustainable Development through Renewable Resources

Introduction:

• As a developing nation India has a  massive demand for energy to fuel its rapidly growing economy and developmental needs.
• However, the country has always been committed to looking for more alternative energy sources for sustainable development. Therefore, it has been promoting clean energy resources and making efforts to deal with climate change.
• Sustainable Development, as defined by the United Nations, is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 
• The scale, spread and pace of development has posed an inevitable challenge of balancing the spirit of human endeavour to conquer new heights without compromising the fundamental principles of sustainable development. 

Energy Sector:

• The use of renewables has scope in the energy sector  primarily due to the fact that energy is the main driver in automation, and in any other fields which demand inputs beyond human efforts. 
• As of today, India is consuming about 9000 billion units of energy for various purposes.
• About 47 per cent of the total energy is sourced from coal and lignite, 31 per cent from crude oil, about 15 per cent from electricity (hydro, nuclear and other renewable sources) and 8 per cent from natural gas.

Impact of Fossil Fuels:

• Fossil fuels pose many strategic and health challenges apart from the fear of extinction and carbon emission. 
• The turbulence in oil supply nations caused distress in oil consumer countries. The recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also prompted many countries to explore alternate energy options to fossil fuels. 
• The 2022 report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change says that the changing climate is affecting the spread of infectious diseases, putting populations at higher risk of emerging diseases and co-epidemics.
• These facts clearly indicate the necessity to explore renewable energy options. 
• In view of this, in August 2022, India updated the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as stipulated in the Paris Agreement. 
  • This demonstrates India’s commitment at the highest level for decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable Energy:

• Today, India is a power surplus nation with a total installed electricity capacity of over four lakh Mega Watt (MW). 
• Keeping in mind the sustainable development goals, India’s power generation mix is rapidly shifting towards a more significant share of renewable energy. 
• Today, India is the world’s third largest producer of renewable energy, with about 42 per cent of our installed electricity capacity coming from non-fossil fuel sources. 
• Estimated renewable energy potential of India (other than large hydro) is about 1.5 million MW, of which 50 per cent is from solar,  46.7 per cent from wind, and the remaining from small-hydro, biomass and waste to energy.

Image Source: Kurukshetr

Solar Power:

• Solar energy has many advantages among which the abundance in supply, ability to generate power on a distributed basis, and ability for capacity addition in short time leads are prominent.
• The last decade has witnessed a surge in the use of solar energy based decentralised and distributed applications. 
• Millions of Indians are now using solar power for lighting, cooking, mobility and other energy needs. 
• The solar power-based cooking has significantly improved the quality of life, especially of rural women and girl children, by reducing the drudgery of long haul of fuel woods and risk of lung and ailments caused by kitchen smoke. 
• Easy access to power in remote areas have boosted economic activities and employment opportunities, and thus helped in mainstreaming the under­developed zones.
• Estimates by National Institute of Solar Energy suggest that covering three per cent of the waste land area with solar photovoltaic modules can generate about 748 GW power. 
• In 2010, Government of India launched National Solar Mission (NSM) with active participation of States to promote sustainable growth while addressing the energy security challenges. 
  • This can also contribute significantly to our effort to tackle the challenges of climate change.

Wind Power:

• The study conducted by National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) identified seven states viz. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh with significant potential for power generation from wind. 
  • The wind potential of these 7 seven states at 100 m above ground level (agl) is 293 GW and the potential at 120 m agl is 652 GW. 
• The Government has been promoting wind power projects by incentivising the investments through Accelerated Depreciation Benefit, which allows an investor to claim a higher rate of depreciation in wind power infrastructure than that for the general assets.
• Government has also introduced a waiver of Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) charges for inter-State sale of solar and wind power, for projects to be commissioned by 30 June 2025.
• India, having a natural advantage of a 7500 km long coast line, has the potential of harnessing offshore wind energy.
• In 2015, Government of India notified National Offshore Wind Energy Policy with the primary objective of exploring and promoting deployment of offshore wind farms in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the country, including those under Public Private Partnership. 

Hydropower:

• Since March 2019 Government of India has been recognising Large Hydro Power Projects (LHPs) including Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) having capacity of more than 25 MW as part of renewable energy. 
• According to the assessment made by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India has the potential of economically exploitable hydro-power to the tune of 1,48,700 MW. 
• However, only less than 30 per cent of this is presently exploited despite having long life, low cost and high efficiency among many other advantages.

Bio Fuels:

• Ethanol and biodiesel are the two most common types of biofuels in use today. 
• The Government has been implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme wherein the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) sell petrol blended with 10 per cent ethanol. 
• Since the biomass-based renewable hydrocarbon fuels are nearly identical to the petroleum-based fuels, the transition becomes easier. 
• The National Policy on Biofuels announced in 2018 is aimed at accelerated promotion of biofuels with indicative targets of achieving 20 per cent blending in Petrol and 5 per cent blending in diesel by 2030.

Read about Green Hydrogen 

Ocean and Geo-thermal:

• Ocean energy refers to energy derived from Wave Energy, Tidal Energy, and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion. The technology development in these areas is at the research and development stage. 
  • The estimated theoretical power potentials for Tidal and Wave energy are 12,455 MW and 41,300 MW respectively. 
• Geothermal Energy is a source of heat stored in the earth’s crust, which is manifested on the surface as hot springs. 
  • In India, Geological Survey of India (GSI) has estimated that a tentative power potential of 10 GW could be extracted from geothermal energy.

Food Security and Renewables:

• Ensuring food security is the fundamental pre-requisite for catalysing human centric development. 
• Ratio of volume of groundwater extracted every year to the annual ground water recharge, referred to as stage of groundwater development, in the country is 61.6 per cent. 
  • The stage of ground water extraction is very high in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan, where it is more than 100 per cent, which implies that in these states the annual ground water consumption is more than annual extractable ground water resources. 
  • In the states of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Union Territories (UTs) of Chandigarh and Puducherry, the stage of ground water extraction is between 60-100 per cent. 
• These trends clearly establish the huge reliance on energy by way of lifting the ground water for irrigation purposes. 
• The decline of the ground water table leads to the consumption of more energy every year to meet the irrigation requirements. Use of renewables plays a major role in ensuring gains for the water­energy-food nexus. 
  • For example, renewable energy based micro irrigation systems, and the reuse of waste water treated in plants powered with renewable energy can significantly contribute to the environment, water & energy saving and in ensuring food security.

Way Forward:

• Renewable energy sources are in a less competitive position in terms of ease of maintenance and useful life as compared to conventional energy sources. 
• Research and development have to be augmented in the direction of generating more energy with less space. 
• International cooperation, synergy and harmony in tapping the renewable resources by way of exchange of technology, sharing the benefits of advancements in scientific research and space technology, in assessing the global risks and making informed choices is significant.
• The upcoming G20 summit under India’s presidency shall hopefully witness conceptualisation of robust pathways in this direction.

Chapter 2: Powering Growth in Agriculture Sector

Introduction:

• Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy contributing nearly 15 per cent to national GDP.
• It provides livelihood to around two-third of the total working population in the country
• Further, agriculture is the primary source of raw materials for some of the major industries such as textile, sugar, food, pharma (mainly Ayurveda) and new age health and fitness products.
• Recently, agriculture has jumped to the 7th position as net exporter, across the globe.

Energy Demand:

• Agriculture also demands high energy inputs in many of its activities, mainly irrigation. 
• According to estimates, agriculture consumes nearly 20 per cent of the electricity consumed at national level. 
• Additionally, farmers have installed around nine million diesel pump sets to harvest groundwater for irrigation purposes.
• Energy consumption at this high level has raised concern in view of India’s commitment to reduce the carbon intensity by less than 40 per cent by 2030 (COP-26). 
• Recently, the Government has set a target to make the agriculture sector diesel free by 2024. In this context, renewable energy (RE) has emerged as the most viable and sustainable option to address the environmental concerns and meet the targets as envisaged by the Government of India. 
• RE also promises to increase income of farmers and save precious natural resources, mainly water. 
• The Government has taken a series of steps to empower farmers with RE systems to make them energy self-sufficient, particularly in irrigating their fields. Various sources of renewable energy such as solar, wind, small hydro, biomass and agricultural wastes are being deployed in rural settings for agricultural purposes. 
• The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) also facilitates related research, design, development and manufacture. 
• At state level, a network of Renewable Energy Development Agencies actively co-operate and co-ordinate with MNRE to connect with various stakeholders, primarily farmers.

Resources at Work:

1. Biogas

• Biogas plants generate the high calorific value (5,000 kcal per cu.m.) gas by decomposition of organic materials such as cattle dung, agricultural wastes, poultry droppings, night soil and municipal wastes. 
  • Currently, over five million biogas plants of various capacities are operational in the country 
• Most commonly, biogas in its raw form is used as clean fuel for cooking, lighting, motive power and generation of electricity. 
• It is also used in diesel engines to substitute diesel up to 80 per cent, however, 100 per cent replacement of diesel may be achieved by using Biogas Engines. 
• The digested slurry from biogas plants, a by-product, is used as a nutrient enriched organic manure for improving crop yield and also maintaining soil health. 
  • Thus, biogas plants help with waste management, reduce energy costs, improve soil fertility and curb carbon emissions. 
• Proper waste management on farms leads to better cleanliness and hygiene which improves the living conditions and health of the community. The biogas sector has helped generate employment for both skilled and unskilled rural people.
• Government of /ndia is promoting installation of biogas plants by providing subsidy through two major schemes:

                (a) New National Biogas and Organic Manure Programme (NNBOMP).

                (b) Biogas Power Generation (off-grid) and Thermal Energy Application Programme (BPGTP)

• Government of India has launched a dedicated GOBARdhan (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) scheme (Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen Phase-2) with twin objectives – to make the villages clean and generate clean power from organic wastes. 
  • The scheme also aims to increase income of farmers by converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas (CBG). 
  • Technical and financial assistance under the scheme is attracting entrepreneurs for establishing community based CBG plants in rural areas. 
    • CBG is a purified form of biogas (98 per cent purity of methane content) which makes it suitable for use as green and clean fuel for transportation or filling in cylinders at high pressure (250 bar). Scheme is also promoting rural employment and income generation opportunities for rural youth and others. 
• Recently, Asia’s largest CBG plant was inaugurated at Sangrur, Punjab with an FD/ investment of Rs. 220 crores. 
• CBG plant offers a much needed substitute for burning crop stubbles which is a serious environmental and health issue. 
  • It is claimed that this plant will reduce the burning of stubble on 40,000-45,000 acres of fields, resulting in an annual reduction of 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This will help India meet its CoP-26 climate change targets of reducing carbon emissions.

      2. Biomass

• Biomass materials used for power generation primarily include bagasse, rice husk, straw, crop waste and agricultural residues. 
• MNRE has been implementing biomass power/ cogeneration programs since the mid-nineties. 
• Over 800 biomass power and bagasse/ non-bagasse cogeneration projects aggregating to over 10,206 Mega Watt capacity have been so far installed in the country with central financial assistance from Government of India. 
• Power from biomass is generated by installing biomass gasifiers in proximity to the source of raw materials to reduce costs. 
• Irrigation pumps powered by rice-husk electricity are cheaper, long lasting and more eco­friendly than diesel powered pumps. Irrigation facility at low cost allows farmers to increase crop intensity and also improves crop yield.

      3. Solar Energy

• Addressing the energy concerns in the agriculture sector, a large number of solar devices/ equipment have been developed and deployed that include solar water pumps, solar dryers, solar dusters etc. 
• The PM-KUSUM scheme is one of the largest initiatives of the world to provide clean energy to more than 35 lakh farmers and also enhance their income. The scheme is being implemented through its three components with specific objectives:
  • In addition to day time reliable power and increase in farmer’s income, the scheme also has direct employment generation potential for skilled and non-skilled work force. According to estimates, each solar installation creates approximately 24.50 job years per MW.
  • PM-KUSUM will help reduce subsidies required from states for electricity supply to agriculture. 
  • It will also help boost domestic solar manufacturing mainly to make solar cells and solar modules for which we still depend on imports. 
  • The scheme will lead to an annual reduction of 1.38 billion litres in diesel consumption per year, thus, reducing the import bill on account of petroleum products. 
  • The scheme will also lead to reducing carbon emissions by as much as 32 million tonnes per annum.
• Due to the immense potential and scope of renewable energy in the agriculture sector, the Government is focusing on decentralised RE systems and products. 
• MNRE has recently released a framework (2022) to promote RE based applications that are used for earning livelihoods. A special focus on engaging all stakeholders, skill development and capacity building would scale up RE-based livelihood applications. 
• However, financing for the end-users and enterprises would be critical to enable the adoption of solutions and scale-up of the sector. 
• RE based decentralised and distributed applications have benefitted millions of farmers in villages by meeting their energy needs in an environment friendly manner.

Chapter 3: Decarbonisation of Transport Sector

Introduction:

• Recognising the impact of climate change, India is championing climate action – on track to achieve the nationally determined climate goals, mainstream sustainability, and reduce the carbon footprint. 
• The average carbon footprint of a person in India is 0.56 tonnes per year, compared to the global average of four tonnes. 
• India’s traditional knowledge, social norms, and daily household practices firmly position it to lead the narrative of addressing climate change through individual behaviours, in the form of mass movements (Jan Andolan), LiFE.
• India is focussing on catalysing, growing, and fuelling the entrepreneurs in the country to create businesses with clean technologies such as hydrogen, electric mobility, batteries, etc. 
• Green technologies are driving sustainable development in India. Such technologies maximise energy efficiency and preserve the environment while saving money‘out of many sectors, including steel, railways, shipping, aviation, energy, road transport, etc.

Green technologies in Transport Sector:

• India’s transport demand is expected to increase by 2.7 times in over 30 years. 
• Electric vehicles (EVs) are as green as the electricity powering them and the sustainable supply chain of batteries.
  • Lifetime emissions from EVs today are 19-34 per cent lower than ICE cars.
• In India, mass mobility relies on public transport, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers. Therefore, FAME India Scheme Phase II was focused on these three segments. 
  • Bus transport in India accounts for 38 per cent of passenger km, though its share in overall registered vehicles in India is just around 3.5 per cent. 
  • Two-wheelers account for 76-80 per cent of the total registered automotive in India.
  • Last-mile connectivity mainly depends on three-wheelers and sub-seven-metre buses.
• India is already the biggest manufacturer and most significant market for 2 wheelers globally. However, electric two-wheeler vehicle manufacturing is being led by startups and first-time entrants. Traditional players are also now switching to electric models.
• Electric two-wheelers will also see Mobility on Demand (MoD) and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) models to develop. This is because the upfront cost of fixed-battery electric two-wheelers is still higher than ICE vehicles.
• India has a chance also to become the global hub of manufacturing for the entire EV Value chain (except raw material mining). Therefore, billion-dollar incentive programs such as the advanced chemistry cell program with an outlay of 2.5 bn USD over five years were rolled out and received an overwhelming response from the industry. 
• Several states have also rolled out the incentives for battery manufacturing.

Road Ahead:

• India needs to have million-plus fast chargers to cater to the needs of EVs.However, fast chargers are imported into India and only a few players are manufacturing locally developed/manufactured fast chargers.
  • Government-led companies such as BHEL / BEL can join hands to develop the local supply chain for chargers manufacturing.
• Research institutions such as IISc and labs CPRI/ CSIR/ARCI can provide further technical support.
• The battery swap stations in rural areas will change the EV adoption and Battery storage landscape.
  • These swap stations can serve as micro power grids, which can power the villages/houses in the vicinity and supply the excess power to the grid. 
• India also needs a comprehensive mission plan to deal with advanced chemistry cells (ACC) recycling as >95 per cent of the original critical minerals can be recovered from these ACC batteries and reused in cell manufacturing. 
• Government should focus on capacity building at all levels, along with upskilling and reskilling with respect to EVs.
  • NITI Aayog is working with IITs to nudge them to start EV-specific courses. 
  • “Shoonya – Zero pollution Mobility” is a consumer and corporate-facing campaign hosted by NITI Aayog. 
    • The campaign aims to accelerate the transition of vehicles used for ride-hailing and deliveries into EVs by creating awareness and demand for zero-pollution rides and deliveries in Indian cities. 

Chapter 4: Mitigating Environmental Issues

Introduction:

• Greenhouses gases are generated by burning fossil fuels for energy production which are responsible for global climate change posing great environmental threat.
• Energy consumption accounts for 60 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions.As per World Energy Outlook 2021 of International Energy Agency (IEA), the current share of India in global primary energy consumption is 6.1 percent.
• Over 80 percent of India’s energy needs are met by three fuels: coal, oil and solid biomass.
• In the energy sectors (both for developing and developed countries) widespread use of renewable energy is important for achieving sustainability. 
• A transition to cleaner forms of energy has already begun in many countries, with the fast rate of technological innovation and cost reduction. 
• Renewable energy technologies could be deployed more rapidly if energy policies addressed both the subsidies and impacts of fossil fuels while facilitating more finance for renewable energy projects.

India’s efforts towards mitigating the effects of climate change:

• Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy submitted by India under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) focuses on the rational utilisation of national resources with due regard to energy security. 
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has two central sector schemes that address climate change. 
  • The Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) launched during the 12thFive Year Plan with an outlay of Rs. 290 Cr. to build capacity and support implementation of relevant climate change related actions at the national and State level. 
  • The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), established in August 2015, with the aim of meeting the cost of climate change adaptation for states and union territories in India which are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

• India at the COP 26-UNFCCC presented ‘Panchamrit’ of India’s climate action. 

• The Union Cabinet has also given its approval to introduce the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in High Efficiency Solar PV Modules for Enhancing India’s Manufacturing Capabilities and Enhancing Exports, It aims to reduce import dependence in the area of energy sector. 
• Green Energy Corridors is another programme implemented by MNRE in the country to promote renewable energy sources, to create an intra-state transmission system for renewable energy projects. 
  • Central financial assistance is provided to set up transmission infrastructure for evacuation of Power from Renewable Energy projects. 
• Recently, Modhera, a village in Gujarat was declared as India’s first solar-powered village. Conversion to a clean.
• The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 has been passed which focus on the use of non-fossil energy (biomass, ethanol, green hydrogen) to decarbonise IIndian economy. 
  • It will also allow carbon credit trading. These initiatives will help India achieve targets of the Paris Climate Agreement and significantly contribute towards reducing the pollution load and thereby mitigating environmental problems.
  •  It will also have bearing on the targets set in the Global Biodiversity Framework under the COP-15 of Convention on Biological Diversity to protect the world’s biodiversity.

Chapter 5: Public Awareness About Renewable Energy Sources

Introduction:

• Energy services are essential in all societies to provide for basic human needs (such as lighting, cooking, space comfort, mobility, and communication) and support productive processes that promote economic development. 
• Since the 1850s, the use of fossil fuels has increased globally and has come to dominate the energy supply, which has caused a steep rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 
  • In 2019, it contributed 34 per cent of the total GHG emissions.
• In order to effectively optimise energy structures, balance supply, and demand discrepancies, and safeguard the environment, renewable energy is a crucial part of the energy supply. 
• Nearly 80 per cent of the world’s population resides in nations that are net importers of fossil fuels, making them susceptible to geopolitical shocks. 
  • For example, the recent Russia-Ukraine war profoundly impacted global energy markets.
• Consequently, the global energy market experienced price volatility, supply shortages, security issues, and economic uncertainty, as Russia is the world’s major producer and exporter of oil and natural gas. 
• Considering its possibility to decarbonise the energy system and ensure self-sufficiency, recent years have seen a rise in interest in clean energy as various economies and nations seek to reduce their reliance on highly polluting fossil fuels. 
• The “Agenda 2030” calls for a path to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and protect the planet. 
  • In line with this, target 7.2 of the Sustainable Development Goal calls for a substantial increase in the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by the year 2030 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Read more on Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy-Prospects:

• The IEA reports that in 2021, renewable energy sources contributed 28 per cent of the total energy generation worldwide, while coal was used to generate 36.3 per cent. Furthermore, renewable energy sources are expected to account for over 90 per cent of global electricity expansion over the next five years, surpassing coal to become the largest source of global electricity by early 2025.
• China, the European Union, the United States, and India are primarily responsible for the surge in the share of renewable energy sources in the next five years due to their policy responses and market reforms pertaining to green energy. 
• The Economic Survey 2021-22 reports that renewable energy contributes to approximately 10.7 per cent of India’s power generation, followed by coal. 
• The transition from conventional to green energy has experienced the fastest rate of growth among all large economies, with renewable energy capacity increasing by 2.9 times and solar energy expanding by over 18 times.

Public Awareness about RE:

• Public awareness can be defined as the improvement of the public understanding of environmental issues with various aims, including building environmental awareness and getting public, financial and/or scientific support for solving issues.
• Studies have found that public understanding, communication, and knowledge concerning climate actions positively impact public engagement. 
• Public awareness can be seen as a measure of how well-informed the public is about renewable energy, and it can be influenced by various factors such as media coverage, public education campaigns, and personal experiences.
• Public awareness of renewable energy encompasses information, attitudes, and behaviours related to consuming energy services that have a beneficial impact on the sustainability of the environment. 
• By raising awareness about renewable energy options, individuals can be motivated to engage in activities such as supporting policy measures that promote the deployment of renewable energy, investing in renewable energy technologies, and advocating for change, which can help to bring about positive changes in energy policies and practices.

Renewable Energy Promotion: The Indian Context

• To promote the use of renewable energy sources, an exclusive institution, the Department of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (DNES), was created in the Ministry of Energy in 1982. 
• In 1992, the Department was upgraded into a separate Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) in 1992 and was re-named as Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in October 2006. 
• The Ministry is being supported by five institutes, namely, (i) National Institute of Solar Energy (ii) National Institute of Wind Energy (iii) Sardar Swarn Singh National Institute of Bio Energy (iv) Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA); and (v) Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). 
• To enhance efficiency and responsiveness to people and to make people aware, the Ministry has brought out a Citizens’/Clients’ Charter (CCC), incorporating its mission, main services/transactions and commitment to its clients and the people of India in general. 
  • It also aims at addressing problems of the interface between the Ministry and its Clients/ Citizens and also continuously improving the quality of public services for the people at large to make them responsive to their needs and wishes.

Policy and Guidelines:

• As per the Annual Report of 2021-22, a comprehensive policy framework on Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme is in place to support Research and Development in the new and renewable energy sector, including associating and supporting Research and Development earned out by the industry for market development. 
• The Ministry provides up to 100 per cent financial support to Government/NGOs and up to 50 to 70 per cent to industry. 
• The Budget allotted for Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development (RE¬RTD) Programme is Rs. 228 crores for FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. 
• The policy framework provides guidelines for project identification, formulation, monitoring, appraisal, approval, and financial support.
• There are specific schemes to promote renewable energy in India. The National Solar Mission is one of the most important schemes of the Union government.
• The Pradhan Mantri Kishan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) is another important scheme in this regard. 
• The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change is another initiative to make people aware. 

Chapter 6: Transition to Clean Energy

Clean Energy:

• Since, emissions of greenhouse gases are one of the primary causes of climate change, nations all over the globe are making concerted efforts to transition to cleaner forms of energy by altering the processes by which energy is generated.
• The term “energy transition” refers to the change that is taking place in the global energy sector away from fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, and toward renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, as well as lithium-ion batteries.
• Renewable energy technologies are called “clean” or “green” since they generate very few pollutants, if any. 

Energy Scenario:

• India is the world’s third-largest consumer of energy. Since 2000, energy consumption has doubled, with coal, oil, and solid biomass still supplying 80 per cent of the demand.
• Coal’s dominance as an energy source is supported by its strong position in power production and as a commercial fuel (especially heavy industries such as iron and steel).
• In the year 2000, coal met 33 per cent of India’s primary energy needs; in the present day, it fulfils 44 per cent of that requirement.
• Traditional biomass was India’s second-most important energy source in 2000, accounting for a quarter of the major energy mix. 
  • Traditional biofuels include fuelwood, animal waste, and charcoal. 
  • Since then, energy consumption as a whole has doubled, while the share of conventional biomass in the total energy mix has progressively declined, reaching 12 per cent in 2019. This drop is mostly due to the improved availability of contemporary cooking fuels, especially LPG.
• The increase in automobile ownership as well as road travel has increased oil consumption across the country. 
  • Transport energy consumption climbed 3.5 times since 2000 while building demand grew 40 per cent due to increasing appliance ownership and the availability of contemporary cooking fuels. 
  • Urbanisation and rising affluence have also led to an increased usage of residential appliances, driving up electricity consumption and outpacing total energy demand. 
  • The industry’s usage of electric motors and other machines has further increased power demand.
• India has made great progress in electricity access in recent years through the Saubhagya scheme, and government data indicate that more than 99 per cent of households were connected to electricity in 2019.  

Future of the Energy Sector:

• As per IEA, within the next two decades,solar power is projected to see great development in India, eventually equalling the amount of coal in the mix of power generation in India. 
  • Currently, solar energy is responsible for less than 4 per cent of India’s total electricity output, whereas coal is responsible for close to 70 per cent.
• Solar power, along with other forms of generation technology and energy storage, is encouraged to be combined in order to provide a “round-the-clock” supply, which is one of the driving forces behind the growth of renewable energy projects on a utility scale.
• Between 2014 and 2019, there was approximately a 55 per cent increase in the amount of money invested in renewable energy.
• Wind and solar photovoltaic electricity currently account for 7 per cent of total output, which is twice as much as their proportion in 2014. 
• Nevertheless, there are still major structural, legislative, and institutional impediments that might hamper further expansion, and the level of success has been variable among the many forms of renewable technology. 
• Congestion on the grid, concerns regarding the development of grid infrastructure, and the weak financial status of many state distribution businesses are some of the challenges that need to be addressed and overcome.

India to lead the Global Energy Sector:

• Between 2019 and 2040, India will have the highest rise in energy demand of any country, accounting for about one-quarter of the total global increase. 
• India, which is currently a major player in solar photovoltaics (PV), will take on a similar role in battery storage, attracting more than a third of global investment between 2019 and 2040.
• India’s power system will grow larger than the European Union’s by 2040, and it will be the world’s third-largest in terms of electrical generation. 
• Furthermore, India’s installed renewable energy capacity will be thirty per cent greater than that of the United States.
• To capitalise on India’s position as a leader in the deployment of battery storage and other clean energy technologies, as well as a country with a large and growing domestic market, the government intends to capture a larger share of this demand through domestic production. 
• India’s policymakers will have the critical responsibility of managing the risks and geopolitical hazards connected with these increasingly crucial value chains. 
• By the year 2040, the solar PV module, wind turbine, lithium-ion battery, and water electrolyzer businesses in India are expected to generate a combined annual revenue of over $ 40 billion. 
• With a total yearly trade volume of over $ 3 billion, India is now a net importer of goods such as solar photovoltaics (PV) and batteries. 
  • The solar photovoltaic (PV) cell and module production facilities in India have had difficulty operating with high capacity factors and competing with imports, notably those coming from China. 
  • It is possible that local production would be able to satisfy a greater share of demand, which would be in line with the policy aim of the government to increase domestic manufacturing. 
  • The Advanced Chemistry Cell and Battery Gigafactory plan developed by NITI Aayog offers financial incentives to companies who want to construct battery cell plants.
  •  In addition, the first plant in India to produce anodes for lithium-ion batteries was recently commissioned in the state of Karnataka.

Chapter 7: Renewable Energy Transforming Rural Women

Introduction:

• Renewable energy is transforming the lives of rural women in India and has the potential to do much more. 
• In rural India, renewable energy can drive energy availability in previously unconnected areas, generate jobs, enable social transformation and accelerate economic growth.
• Several initiatives have been taken by MNRE, to bring out policies that leverage RE as a change-maker in rural women’s lives.

Renewable Energy and Employment:

• A Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) analysis estimates that India’s targets of 1,00,000 MW of solar and 60,000 MW of wind power capacity will generate about 1.3 million direct jobs. 
• Realising this massive opportunity, the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), an autonomous institute of MNRE, has organised the ‘Surya Mitra’ skill development programme in collaboration with State Nodal Agencies. 
  • The programme will prepare candidates to become entrepreneurs in the solar energy sector. Special emphasis is being given to rural women candidates during the selection process. 
• Workflow interruptions and the damage caused to sensitive electrical equipment by power fluctuations not only limit productivity but also hinder the establishment of new enterprises.
• Energy supply to rural households improves the efficiency of businesses and helps increase women’s non-farm self-employment. 
• Reliable energy access also affords women extra time that they can utilise in skill training sessions to get a job or start their own business. 
• A women-led initiative, Hariyali Green, was implemented by the Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS) under MNRE (AREAS-MNRE) along with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). 
  • It aimed to enhance access to clean energy technologies and improve livelihood opportunities at the household level in rural India. Their goal is to create 100 Green Villages by 2025.

Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) Spurring Rural Women’s Micro-Entrepreneurship:

• DRE is a renewable energy-based system that can generate and distribute energy independent of a centralised electricity grid and provides a wide range of services like lighting, cooking, space heating, and cooling.
• In India alone, CEEW estimates a market upwards of USD 53 billion for using clean energy for productive enterprises in rural areas such as cold storage, looms, rice mills, and sewing machines. 
• Each solar cold storage could augment the incomes for 50-100 farmers. Each agro-processing unit could help a group of farmers, or as in India, farmer producer organisations (FPOs). 
• Additionally, there is significant potential in textile value chains and small, petty shops, especially for small refrigerators, including in value chains like dairy and fisheries.
• In February 2022, MNRE released a draft policy framework for promoting DRE livelihood applications with an explicit gender emphasis. 
• The policy supports the adoption of DRE livelihood technologies among women by providing access to finance for entrepreneurs and end users. This will support the women SHG members in creating new jobs and scaling their existing businesses using DRE technologies.

Resilient Rural Health Systems for Women:

• Accessing reliable electricity is a significant constraint in rural health centres in India. According to CEEW’s 2017 analysis, 4.6 per cent of functional Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in India are unelectrified. This affects over 38 million rural households. 
• A 2021 study states that lack of reliable electricity in healthcare centres is associated with a decrease of 64 per cent in child deliveries affecting women’s access to safe healthcare.
• Renewable energy can empower rural hospitals by providing uninterrupted electricity and upgrading basic and critical-care services. 
• Social enterprises have developed portable maternity kits, which comprise portable solar torches and basic diagnostic kits for testing for anaemia, blood sugar levels, and malaria in Kalahandi, Odisha. With the support of the solar kit, pregnant women were able to access check-ups at home, which has had a positive impact on mortality rates.

Access to Clean Energy Equals Access to Better Education and Health:

• Women, because of gender-based division in household work, are involved in collecting fuel for cooking and transporting them over long distances. 
• Rural Indian women, on average, spend five to eight hours every day on cooking, and 20 per cent of this time is used in securing fuel wood alone. This has, in turn, reduces their time for study, schooling, or paid employment. Further, biomass fuel causes severe and long-term health problems such as respiratory diseases.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that 500,000 deaths occur yearly due to unclean cooking fuels in India. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that the average firewood load carried by women for several miles daily varies from 25-50 kg. 
• Providing clean energy access can reduce the drudgery among rural women, giving them time for education or skill upgradation and improving their health.

Chapter 8: India: A Green Hydrogen Global Hub

Introduction:

• The Union Cabinet on 4th January 2023 approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an initial outlay for the mission is Rs.19,744 crore. 
• The mission seeks to promote development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country by 2030. 
• Indian Oil Corporation aims to replace at least a tenth of its current fossil-fuel-based hydrogen at its refineries with carbon-free green hydrogen. 
• In the long run, it envisages an investment of over Rs. 8 lakh crore and creation of over 6 lakh jobs by 2030.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will formulate the scheme guidelines for implementation. 
• The Mission will also help India export high-value green products making it one of the first major economies to industrialise without the need to ‘carbonise’. 
• India’s distinct advantage in terms of low-cost renewable electricity, complemented by rapidly falling electrolyser prices, can enable green hydrogen to be not just economical compared to fossil-fuel based hydrogen but also compared to the green hydrogen being produced around the globe.

Read more on National  Green Hydrogen Mission

The Story So far:

• In 2020, India’s hydrogen demand stood at 6 million tonnes (MT) per year and it is estimated that by 2030, the hydrogen costs will be down by 50 per cent. The demand for hydrogen is expected to see a five-fold jump to 28 MT by 2050 where 80 per cent of the demand is expected to be green in nature. 
• Top industry leaders such as Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Larsen and Toubro (L&T) plan to foray into the green hydrogen space.
  • RIL plans to become a net-carbon zero firm by 2035 and invest nearly INR 750 billion over the next three years in RE.
  • Indian Oil is at the forefront of the green hydrogen revolution. It is planning to set up India’s first green hydrogen unit for the Mathura refinery, which will be used to process crude oil.
    • Indian Oil Corporation aims to replace at least a tenth of its current fossil-fuel-based hydrogen at its refineries with carbon-free green hydrogen. 
• India has declared its ambition to become an exporter of hydrogen to Japan, South Korea, and Europe.
• Various hydrogen powered vehicles have been developed and demonstrated under projects supported by the Government of India. 
• Government policy in India is also extremely supportive of new investments in the hydrogen ecosystem and recently Indian enterprises can satisfy their renewable purchase obligations (RPOs) by purchasing green hydrogen. 
• In India, the production cost of green hydrogen is around Rs. 500 per kg. The government expects to reduce the cost of manufacturing green hydrogen by 40-50 per cent through its policy initiatives.
• The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing area in the green hydrogen market. India has set a target of an annual production capacity of 25 million tonnes by 2047. The number could well be revised upwards as the technology evolves and the demand outlook improves.
• India today is in the process of finalising a roadmap for becoming a green hydrogen economy which would require Rs. 15 trillion and another Rs. 15 trillion to meet the middle-term goal by 2030. So, in all, these initiatives would require an investment of Rs. 30 trillion by 2030.

Gist of Kurukshetra Feb 2023:- Download PDF Here