While addressing the meeting of G20 Energy Ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a big signal on Saturday, 22 July. He said that despite having the largest population in the world, we are not only becoming the fastest growing economy, but we are also fulfilling our commitment to the environment.
In the field of non-fossil fuel, he made a big claim that India has already completed the target of non-fossil, installed electric capacity 9 years ago. Now India has set an even bigger target. By 2030, India wants to make 50 per cent of the installed capacity non-fossil. We are a global leader in solar and wind energy.
India committed to green development
We feed the largest population in the world. Our economy is the fastest growing in the world. Obviously our energy requirements are also huge. Despite this, whatever commitment India has shown on climate and environment, has made promises, it is committed to fulfill them.
PM Modi reiterated this while addressing the G20 Energy Ministers’ meeting held in Goa on Saturday, 22 July through a video message. India has achieved the target of non-fossil installed power capacity nine years in advance. Now the plan is to achieve 50 per cent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030.
India is making remarkable efforts towards green development and transformation in the energy sector. The country is firmly moving towards meeting its climate priorities. India has always demonstrated its leadership capacity towards preventing climate change. India plans to achieve 50 percent electricity generation capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
The world is looking to the G20 countries for an advanced, affordable and clean energy transition. In India, LPG gas has been allotted to 190 million households in the last 9 years. Apart from this, India has also achieved the historic goal of connecting every village with electricity. In 2015, the government started a small movement to use LED lights, after which it became the world’s largest LED distribution program. Due to this, India has saved 45 billion units of energy. Under the Ujjwala programme, subsidized and free gas cylinders were given to the poor.
From petrol to gas, emphasis on green environment
India has started the rollout of 20% ethanol-blended petrol this year and aims to cover the entire country by 2025. India has to overcome the technology-gap as well as promote energy security and there is a need to diversify its supply front as well.
India has the 4th largest wind power capacity in the world and its total non-fossil based installed power capacity is 157.32 GW, which is 40.1% of the total installed power capacity of 392.01 GW. India had kept this target till 2030, but has achieved it 9 years ago i.e. in 2021 itself. Therefore, now the government has increased this target to 50 percent.
India has committed to achieve 500 GW of installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by the year 2030. However, while achieving all these goals, India does not forget to talk about its neighbors or developing countries. This is the reason why the Prime Minister also said in his address, “It is important that our brothers and sisters in the ‘Global South’ (developing countries) are not left behind, we should ensure low-cost financial assistance to developing countries.”
India has also got many challenges to achieve its goal regarding Akshay Energy or renewable energy, one of which is..to prepare the banking sector for the big project. The big challenge at the moment is to create a suitable system capable of arranging finance for a long time and removing technical barriers.
Along with this, there are many non-conventional energy sectors, in which government intervention is necessary. You cannot start a wind or hydroelectric project anywhere. It is also a challenge to identify the land required for it, as well as, if necessary, the government will have to convert it. State governments will have to be persuaded and prepared for land acquisition. An environment has to be created for innovation and research in the country. A large portion of renewable energy will have to be connected with the grid, electricity will have to be made which is dispatchable. The areas which have been considered as such, where it is very difficult to de-carbonize, renewable energy will have to be promoted in those areas as well, their entry will have to be ensured.
India committed to climate protection
The state-of-the-art infrastructure at the national level, along with several other government initiatives, such as a production-linked incentive scheme for the adoption of renewable energy, will provide an opportunity to increase India’s manufacturing capacity and exports. This includes tax concessions and incentives. This will lead to the creation of renewable energy, clean energy industry – in automotive, low-emission products such as electric vehicles and appliances.
This will lead to an overall increase in innovative technologies like green hydrogen and green jobs. Appropriate measures are being taken in many areas such as water, agriculture, forests, energy and enterprise, sustainable mobility and housing, waste management and resource efficiency.
India is de-linking economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions in a phased manner. A net zero target by 2030 by the Indian Railways alone would reduce emissions by 60 million tonnes annually.
India’s massive LED bulb campaign is no less, reducing emissions by 40 million tonnes annually. It means to say that India has a critical goal, in which the rapid pace of development was also water and environmental pollution has to be stopped. India is balancing very cleverly between these two and if everything continues like this, soon we will be among the countries that use pure and alternative energy the most.
read this also:
Sri Lanka engaged in strengthening relations with India, economic need and disillusionment with China is the reason
,