India's Renewable Energy Efficiency

India's Renewable Energy Efficiency

Important for Prelims:

Renewable Energy, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC).

Important for Mains:

GS-3: Renewable energy generation scenario, effective steps in India for energy conservation, India's initiatives related to renewable energy.

Nov. 18, 2023

Context:

Recently, the “Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023” report has been released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

About Renewable Energy:

  • Those natural sources of energy which do not decay or which keep getting renewed and which are not polluting, are called sources of renewable energy. Like sun, water, wind, tides, earth heat etc.

Renewable Energy Generation Scenario:

Globally

  • Currently, America is producing twelve percent electricity, China, Japan and Brazil are producing ten percent electricity and Turkey is producing thirteen percent electricity from wind and sunlight.
  • The European Union is producing 21 percent and the United Kingdom 33 percent of wind and solar energy, while Russia is producing only 0.2 percent of its solar and wind energy.

According to the report of ‘Think Tank Agency’ ‘Amber’,

  • Thermal power plants are producing 33 percent of the world's energy.
  • This report is based on energy related data of 48 countries, which includes India.
  • These 48 countries produce about 83 percent of the world's total electricity.
  • The share of wind and solar in energy production is continuously increasing.

According to the ‘Renewable Capacity Statistics’ report released by the ‘International Renewable Energy Agency’,

  • Global renewable energy capacity has increased by 9.6 percent in 2022.
  • Despite this, this increase is not enough to limit the rise in global temperature.
  • This requires an increase in renewable energy three times the current rate.
  • According to the report, by the end of 2022, the total global renewable energy capacity was to reach 3,372 GW, an increase of a record 295 GW. Last year, renewable energy accounted for about 83 percent of the new power capacity. According to the report, record growth in renewable energy continues despite global uncertainties, confirming the decline in electricity generation from fossil fuels. Continued record growth reflects the resilience of renewable energy amid the energy crisis.

India

Production capability

  • In terms of renewable energy production capacity, India currently ranks third among renewable energy producing countries.
  • India is producing ten percent of the total energy with the help of wind and sunlight.
  • There has been a decline of about 8.3 percent in the electricity generated from coal in India.

Solar energy

  • Solar power generation capacity in India, which was 49,684 MW in 2021, increased to 63,146 MW in 2022.

Wind energy

  • Wind power capacity was to increase from 40,067 MW to 41,930 MW in 2022.

the stake

  • Currently, renewable energy accounts for 36 percent of India's total energy generation capacity. It has increased two and a half times in the last few years. The share of solar energy in this has increased thirteen times.

Energy Demand

  • According to an estimate, by 2035 the energy demand in India will grow at the rate of 4.2 percent annually, which will be the fastest in the entire world.
  • India's demand in the world energy market was five percent in 2016, which is estimated to be eleven percent in 2040.
  • Since 2014, work is being done on high priority in India to make renewable energy an alternative to fossil energy sources.
  • According to an estimate, emissions of 15.7 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide have been prevented from the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Project in Madhya Pradesh. This is equivalent to planting 2.60 crore trees on earth.
  • Industry consumes maximum electricity at 42 percent. Domestic consumption is in second place at 24 percent. Electricity consumption in commercial buildings is eight percent. The total consumption of buildings is 32 percent, but the implementation of energy efficiency standards is the least in them.
  • According to a study by the International Energy Agency, energy efficiency standards have been implemented in 38 percent of the electricity consumption in the industrial sector in the country, while only seven percent of domestic electricity has become energy efficient. In commercial buildings it is around 19 percent. Only two percent in transportation. Only 23 percent of electricity is being used with energy efficiency measures, whereas energy efficiency is not being adopted in 77 percent of electricity expenditure.

Target

  • It is clear from the above description that India will achieve all the targets of renewable energy before 2035.

Effective steps in India for energy conservation:

Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)

  • This is a scheme to make commercial buildings low power consumption and energy efficient, which has been made mandatory to be implemented in many states and union territories of the country.
  • There are three options for designing buildings under ECBC. While the first option saves 15 to 20 percent electricity, the second and third options save 30 to 35 percent and 40 to 45 percent electricity respectively. In this scheme the cost increases by 5 to 8 percent.
  • ECBC is estimated to save 125 billion units of electricity by 2030, which is equivalent to reducing 100 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

Promote the use of LED bulbs

  • According to a study, the use of LED bulbs and tube lights in India has reduced the electricity spent for lighting by about 75 percent.

Measures for energy conservation:

  • By using energy efficient equipment in buildings, electricity consumption can be reduced by about 30 percent.
  • This electricity is equal to the one year requirement of states like Bihar and Jharkhand.
  • By implementing energy efficiency standards, electricity can be saved on a large scale in domestic and residential buildings.
  • According to estimates, if energy efficiency standards are implemented in buildings, additional 30 percent electricity can be saved.
  • There is immense potential for energy efficiency standards in buildings. Building codes are enforced for new commercial buildings, but older buildings and residences can reduce electricity consumption by using energy efficient appliances.
  • 'Bureau of Energy Efficiency' has so far made twenty-six appliances used in homes energy efficient. Their use is increasing, but standards are not mandatory for all of them. The efficiency standards of many power-driven appliances are still not fixed.
  • It has to be ensured that all the equipment used in buildings is within the scope of efficiency standards and they should be implemented compulsorily.
  • Consciousness about energy efficiency has increased among people on the basis of solar energy, but the way people and government campaigned on LED, the same did not happen in the case of other appliances. Strict steps will have to be taken for this.

India's initiatives related to renewable energy:

  • National Solar Mission
  • International Solar Alliance
  • PM Kisan Energy Security and Upliftment Campaign (PM-KUSUM)
  • National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy
  • National Offshore Wind Energy Policy
  • National Hydropower Policy
  • National Hydrogen Energy Mission
  • National Green Hydrogen Mission

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

  • IRENA is the first intergovernmental organization at the international level to promote mutual cooperation and knowledge, sustainable use and adoption of renewable energy.
  • It was officially established on January 26, 2009 in Bonn, Germany.
  • The provisions proposed by this agency are effective from July 8, 2010.
  • Its headquarters is in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Currently it has 163 member countries.
  • World Energy Transitions Outlook report is released by this agency.

Conclusion:

India's energy policy has been in favor of balanced exploitation of nature instead of exploitation. Direct evidence of this comes from the International Solar Alliance launched by India during the Paris Agreement. There are immense possibilities of renewable energy in India. The commitment that India has made to deal with the crisis of climate change requires more significant steps.

-------------------------------------------

Mains Exam Question

Discuss in detail the renewable energy scenario of India.