FUTURE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY IN INDIA

Renewable energy is of significant importance in India. India is one of the largest producers of renewable energy, trailing behind US, China and Germany in the renewable energy country attractive index. The latest update of India's total energy mix in 2019 suggests that there is 35% from renewable energy, 55% from coal, 2% or 7 GW from nuclear power, and remaining 8% small hydal or other sources. Wind, Solar, Hydro, Biomass, and waste are the different available renewable sources in India. A reliable nonconventional geothermal source is also available in India, but it is restricted to direct heat applications. 

The future of renewable energy resources in India is quite an aspirational one. Previously, India had set a target to achieve 20GW of solar power by the year 2022, however the target was achieved in January 2018 itself. With a bright future for renewable energy in India, the government claims that India will reach the target of 175GW of renewable energy by 2022. The power and energy minister on 15th October 2019 said, "The target of having 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022 looks huge. But, today we have established 83 GW clean energy. About 29 GW of renewable energy is under installation. That makes it 112GW and under about 30GW is under bid. So that makes the 175GW of renewables. I am very confident that we would make it (175GW of renewables by 2022)." [1]  On this claim, the minister has also invited investors for investment in the energy sector. 

The Government of India is also planning to build 30 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity along a desert on its western border. The project will spread across Gujarat and Rajasthan, taking the advantage of the windy and arid expanse of the geographical region. Though the project is at its initial stage, it poses several challenges. Land for renewable projects is a key challenge in India and the high cost of acquisition weighs on the price of electricity. The nation is increasingly looking at barren lands for building renewable projects so its energy goals don’t clash with its growing need for agricultural production. [2] 

India is in dire need for power sources. From electrification of villages to power demand by the industrial sectors and new emerging industries, the power consumption is bound to rise up. Due to its low-cost and environmental assets, renewable energy indeed emerges as a compelling alternative for sufficing the power need the energy sector of India.

Sources: 

[1] economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/71614562.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

[2] https://m.economictimes.com/industry/energy/power/india-to-build-30-gigawatts-of-renewable-plants-along-western-border/articleshow/71632622.cms