It has been an interesting year for the renewables sector, with landmark policy interventions targeted at a systemic transition to clean energy across all sections of society – from agriculture to residences and corporates. Moreover, a variety of business models across various renewable energy segments are being explored to accelerate clean energy deployment. Taking charge as the minister of new and renewable energy earlier this year, Pralhad Joshi has a significant role to play in steering India towards its target of 500 GW of clean power by 2030. In this context, the minister discussed the country’s achievements in the renewables sector and the importance of global collaborations at various recent events. Excerpts…
India has made notable progress in the domain of renewable energy, despite its per capita CO2 emissions being among the lowest in the world. Our power consumption is also significantly lower compared to the global average, at nearly one-third of the average world consumption. Meanwhile, we are actively working on reducing our carbon footprint.
India’s installed renewable energy capacity has increased by 165 per cent over the past decade, rising from 76 GW in 2014 to 200 GW in 2024. As a global climate leader, the country champions practical, affordable and sustainable solutions to help the nation meet its developmental needs. Recording a remarkable growth rate, solar energy has swiftly risen as the most promising clean energy technology in India. We are proud of our recent achievement of adding 14.9 GW of solar capacity in the first half of 2024. This is the highest half-yearly solar power installation recorded in the country yet. India’s cumulative installed solar power capacity stands at more than 87 GW. In order to further boost rooftop solar installations, India launched the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana this year, which I believe is one of the best schemes globally. It aims at the installation of rooftop solar plants in 10 million households, and I am quite confident that our team is working exceptionally well to achieve that target within the stipulated timelines.
We are also committed to making India a world leader in the green hydrogen sector. This commitment sends a clear message about India’s aspirations for a leadership position in clean energy and underscores its emerging dominance in the green hydrogen sector. Through the National Green Hydrogen Mission, we aim to position India as the global hub for the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives. This mission has made significant progress, including awarding 3,000 MW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity and 412,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of green hydrogen production, and issuing tenders for 450,000 tpa of green hydrogen capacity and 739,000 tpa of green ammonia production. Pilot projects are likely to be initiated in the steel, shipping and mobility sectors. The government has also launched a research and development scheme with an outlay of Rs 4 billion to support research activities in the green hydrogen ecosystem. A tender for 750,000 tpa of green ammonia is currently live, with additional tenders for 450,000 tpa of capacity also floated.
In our pursuit, we must not forget our responsibility to empower the communities lacking access to energy. Power, as we know, is essential for a better quality of life. Even today, 675 million people worldwide remain in the dark, without access to electricity. This situation persisted in India as well, with around 18,000 villages lacking power connectivity till 2014. However, from 2014 to 2017, all 18,000 villages were connected to the electricity grid within 1,000 days. Ensuring energy access for all is a priority and we must expedite the shift to renewable energy sources. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) furthers this vision by creating a supportive ecosystem to solarise underserved communities across the globe. As a founding member of the ISA, India is committed to supporting global efforts, especially in the Global South, to ensure an inclusive path to a sustainable future for all nations. The ISA aims to stimulate entrepreneurship and drive solar deployment to address the gap in energy and investment. By encouraging these entrepreneurial ventures, it aims to unlock the full potential of solar energy, bringing forth the transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon future. Further, guarantee mechanisms are excellent mediums to attract private sector investment, and I am glad that the ISA provides such guarantees to our member countries in Africa through the Affordable Finance at Scale programme. In partnership with financial institutions worldwide, a global solar facility has also been established to bridge the investment gap and support viable solar projects in risk-prone and remote regions around the world.
As we set the tone for the future of solar, the journey ahead will be undoubtedly beset by challenges. However, through our collective will and collaborative efforts, we will overcome them.
