Indian Initiatives Shaping Energy Transition

• 28 Jun 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy launched ‘The India Story’ booklet, a compilation of Indian initiatives that are shaping India’s energy transition.

• The booklet was launched at the event on Accelerating Citizen Centric Energy Transition organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
  
  • It was organized in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of India (PMI) to the United Nations and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
• The Minister also launched a website which will act as a repository of energy transition related knowledge resources from around the world.

Key Points

• Growth of Renewable Sector:
  
  • In the last 6 years, India’s installed Renewable Energy (RE) capacity has increased by over two and a half times and stands at more than 141 Giga Watts (including large Hydro).
    
    • It is about 37% of the country’s total capacity.
  • The installed solar energy capacity has increased by over 15 times, and stands at 41.09 GW.
  • India’s RE capacity is the 4^th largest in the world. Its annual RE addition has been exceeding that of coal based thermal power since 2017.
• Ease of Investment in Renewables:
  
  • During the last 7 years, over USD 70 billion investment has been made in RE in India.
  • India has a very liberal foreign investment policy for renewables allowing 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through the automatic route in the sector.
    
    • Ease of doing business is India’s utmost priority.
  • Established dedicated Project Development Cells (PDC) and FDI cells in all Ministries for handholding and facilitating domestic and foreign investors.
    
    • PDCs have been established for the development of investible projects in coordination between the Central Government and State Governments and thereby grow the pipeline of investible projects in India and in turn increase FDI inflows.
  • Renewable Energy Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board (REIPFB) Portal:
    
    • It has been developed to provide one-stop assistance and facilitation to the Industry and Investors for development of projects and bringing new investment to the RE sector in India.
• Industry’s Commitment:
  
  • Several members from the Industry have voluntarily declared RE goals and committed to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Renewable 100% (RE100) and Science based targets (SBTs).
    
    • CDP is a global disclosure system that enables companies, cities, states and regions to measure and manage their environmental impacts.
    • SBTs are greenhouse gas reduction goals set by businesses.
• Green Tariff:
  
  • Rules are being framed for a 'green tariff' policy that will help electricity Distribution Companies (Discoms) supply electricity generated from clean energy projects at a cheaper rate as compared to power from conventional fuel sources.
    
    • Government is also promoting Green Hydrogen with obligations for Fertilizers and Refining industries (Green Hydrogen Purchase obligations).
• Initiatives to Increase Investment in Renewables:
  
  • Viability Gap Funding options for Offshore Wind Energy.
  • Green Term Ahead Market and Green Day Ahead Market.
  • Rules for facilitating RE through Open Access.
  • RE procurement through exchanges will also be notified to promote non - conventional resources of energy.

INITIATIVES SHAPING INDIA’s ENERGY TRANSITION
Electrification	Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA): Empowering rural and urban households through access to reliable and affordable electricity Green Energy Corridor (GEC): Synchronising grid-connected renewable energy with India’s national transmission network National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) and Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP): Modernising India’s power sector into a secure, adaptive, sustainable, and digitally enabled ecosystem
Renewable Energy	National Solar Mission (NSM): The 100 GW solar ambition at the heart of the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programme The Wind Energy Revolution: Leveraging India’s robust wind energy sector to boost clean energy manufacturing and the rural economy National Biofuels Policy and SATAT: Building value chains to reduce fuel imports, increase clean energy, manage waste, and create jobs Small Hydro Power (SHP): Harnessing the power of water to integrate remote communities into the economic mainstream. National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHEM): Exploring the commercial viability of a versatile clean fuel Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Integrating India into the global clean energy value chains National Biofuels Policy and SAYAY: Building value chains to reduce fuel imports, increase clean energy, manage waste and create jobs
Energy Efficiency	Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA): Bringing affordable, energy-efficient lighting and appliances to citizens
Clean Cooking	Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Delivering LPG gas to households for Swacch Indhan, Behtar Jeevan – Clean Fuel, Better Life
Industrial Decarbonisation	Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT): Enhancing energy efficiency and curtailing emissions of hard-to-abate industrial sectors
SustainableTransport	Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME): Driving India’s vision for reliable, affordable, and efficient electric mobility Indian Railways: Going Green: Fuelled by environmental conservation, racing towards net zero carbon emissions by 2030 Sustainable Aviation: Integrating cleaner fuels, energy efficiency and ecosystem preservation with aircraft and airport operations
Climate Smart Cities	Smart City Mission (SCM): Developing sustainable and resilient urban habitats via ‘smart solutions’ The Green Buildings Market: Constructing resource efficient, sustainable and resilient buildings
City Gas Distribution	India’s CNG and PNG Network: Increasing the adoption of the ‘green’ fossil fuel for vehicles, households and industries
Cooling Action	India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP): Incentivising the air conditioner industry to build a sustainable cooling value chain
Skilling	Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ): Building a skilled and specialised workforce to deliver India’s sustainable development goals
Global Initiatives	International Solar Alliance (ISA): Harnessing the infinite power for the Sun for sustainable human development Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM): Fostering international cooperation for a technology-driven transition to a global clean energy economy Mission Innovation (MI): Investing in innovation in breakthrough clean energy technologies to deliver impact at scale

Source: PIB