From the Editor-in-Chief
Renewable Energy Double India’s Non-Fossil Fuel Target to 450 GW
White addressing UN Climate Action Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the time for talking is over challenge. The world needs to act now on climate change issues. “The respect for nature, the judicious use of resources, reducing our needs and living within our means have all been important aspects of both our traditions and present day efforts. Needs not Greed has been our guiding principle,”Modi said, adding “I am happy to announce that tomorrow we are going to inaugurate solar panels on the roof of the UN building, funded by India at a cost of 1 million dollars.” “We must accept that if we have to overcome such serious challenge, then what we are doing today is not enough. What we need is global behavioral change,” he said. “India is here today not just to talk about this serious issue but to present a roadmap. In India, we are going to increase renewable energy capacity,” PM Modi added. Eighty countries have joined India’s solar alliance imitative, he further informed. “India is launching a coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure. I invite all world leaders for this coalition”, the Prime Minister said, adding, “We are encouraging e-mobility in our transport sector. We have given gas connection to 150 families. We have also started Jal Jeevan mission for rainwater harvesting.” The PM announced that india is going to increase the share of non fossil fuel, and by 2022 the country plans to increase renewable energy capacity to much beyond 170 GW, and later till 450 GW. India is also working to considerably increase the proportion of the biofuel blend in petrol and diesel, he added. The PM also referred to the Jal Jeevan mission for water conservation, rainwater harvesting and for the development of water resources. India is going to spend approximately 50 billion dollars on this in the next few years. “I thank UN Secretary-General for organizing the Global Action Summit. Various Efforts are being made to fight climate change. What is needed today is everything from education, values to lifestyle and behavioural change.” “…We must accept that if we have to overcome such serious challenge, then we are doing today is not enough, we are having a comprehensive approach from education lifestyle we need is global behavioral change.” India and Sweden together with other partners are launching the Leadership group within the Industry transition track. “This initiative will provide a platform for Governments and the private sector with opportunities for cooperation in the area of Technology innovation. This will help to develop low carbon pathways for industry.”
According to the PM.
Can India Become Solar Power Battery Hub? Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
Amid his thrust on renewable energy, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi recently wondered whether India could become a hub of solar power battery manufacturing, which can play a major role in the march towards clean energy. He stated this while giving example of mobile phones, saying their popularity increased manifold as the size of their batteries decreased. Mr. Modi was responding when asked for his comments on the global challenge of climate change after he addressed the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) here in presence of Russion President Vladimir Putin, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed and Mongolion President Kjhaltmaagin Battulga. He said India, as part of its aspiration to generate 175 GW of clean energy by 2022, is focusing on solar power in a big way. Expressing confidence that India will achieve the target of 175 GW of renewable energy, the Prime Minister wondered whether India could become a hub of solar power battery manufacturing. He said he has invited companies dealing in it to discuss the matter.
He said if solar power was used for cooking in the country, there was scope for 250 million batteries, which in turn could benefit the electric vehicle market through crosssubsidy.
Ocean Energy
With the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently including all forms of ocean energy into the ambit of ‘renewable energy’ for satisfaction of renewable purchase obligations of the discoms, the immense potential of India’s untapped 7,500 km coastline is up for talking. Official estimates of potential in tidal energy stand at 12,455 megawatt (MW) whereas other forms of energy such as wave energy provides for additional capacity. It is also notable that MNRE has not restricted the technologies that can be deployed for realizing the potential of ocean energy and all forms of ocean energy have been included. Given the pace of advent in technology this appears to be highly prudent step for an economy which is looking for more efficient solutions to the ever-growing energy needs. However, the challenges in harnessing any form of ocean energy still remain. Although, India had shown its inclination towards tidal energy as far back as 2011 when the 50 MW tidal energy plant was conceptualized in Gujrat, the actual implementation remains elusive. The lack of policy support and the Government intention has till date failed to provide any substantial interest in the sector. Even globally, tidal energy plants are limited with only 500 MW capacity in operation, and with South Korea leading the actual and planned investments. Before India can expect industry involvement in the sector, certain challenges are required to be addressed. Environmental impact will remain the biggest hurdle in implementation of any such projects. Given that tidal movements impact both the coastal environment and marine life, any disturbance created by barrages for energy generation may have to be examined in detail by the relevant bodies. South Korea’s example in this case may be worthwhile, where the policy initiative for ocean energy has been taken up by the ministry of oceans and fisheries which has jurisdiction on the coastal rules as well. Although, MNRE has issued the notification, unless there is sufficient integration with the rules formulated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF), it may not prove much of a support to the sector for the full exploitation of the potential. Despite the challenges ocean energy will face, the future does look bright with various technologies in advance stages of commercialization.
Innovators are now focusing on integrating various technologies to harness multiple forms of energy (such as waves, tides, and ocean currents) with the same set of equipment. Needless to state that MNRE notification may be the first step towards exploring the immense potential of India’s coastline, but with more determined efforts the day may not be far when substantial share of India’s generation capabilities may come for offshore plants.