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RenewableEnergy
at rapid pace. The total installed
capacity has reached to 310 GW
with generation mix of Thermal
(69.4%), Hydro (13.9%), Renewable
(14.8%) and Nuclear (1.9%). It is
evident that the renewable power has
secured 2nd position after Thermal
and is spreading its wings rapidly
in Ind ia.
The Government of India has
upscaled the target of renewable power
capacity to 175 GW which includes 100
GW from Solar, 60 GW from wind, 10
GW from bio-power and 5 GW from
small hydro power to be achieved by
2022.
Over the years, renewable energy
sector in India has emerged as a
significant layer in the grid connected
power generation capacity. It supports
the government agenda of sustainable
growth, while, emerging as an integral
part of the solution to meet the nation’s
energy needs and an essential player
for energy access. It has been realized
that renewable energy has to play a
much deeper role in achieving energy
security in the years ahead and be an
integral part of the energy planning
process.
There has been a visible impact of
renewable energy in the Indian energy
scenario during the last five years.
Renewable energy sector landscape in
India has, during the last few years,
witnessed tremendous changes in the
policy framework with accelerated
and ambitious plans to increase the
contribution of solar energy. There is
a perception that renewable energy
can now play a significant role, as
also, there is a confidence in the
technologies and capacity to do so.
Enlarging the scope of the National
Solar Mission symbolizes both, and
indeed encapsulates the vision and
ambition for the future.
The Government of India has taken
several initiatives during the last two
years such as the largest renewable
capacity expansion programme in
the world is being taken up by India.
The government is aiming to increase
share of clean energy through massive
thrust in renewables. The core drivers
for development and deployment of
new and renewable energy in India
have been Energy Security, Electricity
shortages, Energy Access, Climate
change etc.
India has an estimated renewable
energy potential of about 900 GW from
commercially exploitable sources viz.
Wind – 102 GW (at 80 metre mast
height); Small Hydro – 20 GW; Bio-
energy – 25 GW; and 750 GW solar
power ( assuming 3% wasteland is
made available)
Renewable energy has a great
potential to usher in universal
energy access. In a decentralized
or standalone mode, renewable
energy is an appropriate, scalable
and viable solution for providing
power to un-electrified or power
deficient villages and hamlets. Over
1.2 million households are using solar
energy to meet their lighting energy
needs and almost similar numbers
of the households meet their cooking
energy needs from biogas plants. Solar
Photovoltaic (PV) power systems are
being used for a variety of applications
such as rural electrification, railway
signaling, microwave repeaters,
mobile towers, TV transmission and
reception and for providing power to
border outposts.
India’s economic growth is
intrinsically linked to the increasing
consumption of energy and natural
resources. Energy demand has
outpaced capacity additions in recent
years, which has resulted in persistent
peak power deficits in the country. In
addition, the Indian government has
made it a priority to provide electricity
to the estimated 304 million people
who are without this service.
Solar is an attractive option to help
address this energy gap driven by
regional fundamentals and regulatory
support by the Indian government.
The Indian government increased its
2022 target for solar capacity from
20GW to 100GW, ratified Paris climate
change agreement and committed to
40% renewables by 2030 up from 15%.
During fiscal year 2017, 49% of total
renewable installations were solar
and solar has clearly outpaced all
other renewables sources. The Central
Government, in collaboration with
18 | May 2018 | www.smartgovernance.in