Renewable Energy & Land Use in India

• 09 Sep 2021

Why in News

Recently, a report named Renewable Energy and Land Use in India by Mid-Century suggested that careful planning today can maximise the benefits and minimise the costs of India’s history-making energy transition.

• It was released by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) which examines issues related to energy markets, trends and policies.
• It’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a diverse, sustainable and profitable energy economy.

Key Points

• Land-Use for Renewables:
  
  • India will use significant stretches of land by 2050 to install renewable energy generation capacities.
    
    • Around 50,000-75,000 square kilometres of land will be used in 2050 for solar energy generation and for an additional 15,000-20,000 sq km for wind energy projects.
  • In India, electricity generation has to compete with alternative uses for land such as agriculture, urbanisation, human habitation and nature conservation, unlike Europe or the US.
• Co-Existence:
  
  • Properly managed renewable generation can co-exist with other land uses, and, unlike coal-based power, it does not fundamentally change land during use or following its ultimate decommissioning.
• Carbon Emission:
  
  • The resulting land cover changes, including indirect effects, will likely cause a net release of carbon up to 50 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour (gCO2 / kwh).
  • The amount of carbon release will depend on the region, scale of expansion, solar technology efficiency and land management practices at solar parks.
• Effect on Ecosystems:
  
  • Land use for renewable energy may put a pressure on a variety of ecosystems. Generally the terms zero impact areas, barren land, unused land or the official designation of wasteland imply that such areas have no value.
    
    • Open Natural Ecosystems (ONE), classified as wastelands, covered around 10% of India’s land surface.
    • The largest stretches are found in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
  • However some of these have the “highest densities and diversity of large mammalian fauna” and also support livelihoods of local populations.
    
    • Earlier the Supreme Court directed all power lines of solar power units passing through Great Indian Bustard habitats in Rajasthan and Gujarat to be laid underground - as the overhead transmission lines could threaten the endangered species.
• Suggestions:
  
  • Reduce Environmental Damage:
    
    • Optimising the size of land used, its location and impact on human habitation, agriculture and conservation of natural resources to reduce environmental damage.
  • Minimizing Land Use:
    
    • Minimising total land-use requirements for renewable energy by promoting offshore wind, rooftop solar and solar on water bodies.
  • Land Assessment:
    
    • Identification and assessment of land for renewable generation by limiting undue regional concentration and developing environmental and social standards for rating potential sites.
    • Policy makers and planners should exclude ONE with high density habitats when considering location of renewable energy projects.
  • Incentivising Agri Voltaics:
    
    • Attention on Indian agri-voltaics sector — securing benefits to farmers and incentivising agri voltaics uptake where crops, soils and conditions are suitable and yields can be maintained or improved.
      
      • Agri voltaics combine the agricultural use of land with the production of electric energy by photovoltaics.

Source: DTE