Mains Marathon

Approach:

• Start by defining India’s renewable energy potential.
• Explain the nature of the regional imbalance.
• Examine the factors contributing to this uneven distribution.
• Conclude with a way forward.

Introduction:

India is endowed with immense renewable energy (RE) potential, particularly solar and wind. With over 300 sunny days annually and a vast 7,500 km coastline, India has an estimated solar potential of 750 GW and wind potential of over 300 GW. However, the development of renewable infrastructure is not uniform—while states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu lead, others lag significantly.

Body :

Understanding the Regional Imbalance

• As of 2024, over 60% of wind power capacity is concentrated in five states: Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.
• Similarly, solar parks and grid connectivity are largely located in western and southern India.
• In contrast, eastern and northeastern states have seen limited progress despite policy support.

Factors Contributing to Uneven Distribution

• Natural Resource Availability:
  • Solar Radiation: States like Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh receive over 300 sunny days annually, with high solar insolation (>5.5 kWh/m²/day). In contrast, northeastern and Himalayan states have lower exposure.
  • Wind Patterns: Coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra benefit from high wind speeds (>18 km/h), while central and northern states are relatively wind-poor.
• Land Availability and Topography
  • Large-scale solar and wind farms require flat, arid, and non-agricultural land.
  • Rajasthan offers vast desert land, while Gujarat’s Rann provides space for ultra-mega projects.
  • Conversely, densely populated or forested states such as West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand face land acquisition and ecological constraints.
• Infrastructure and Grid Connectivity
  • Green Energy Corridors and high-voltage transmission lines are concentrated in RE-rich states.
  • Regions lacking inter-state transmission capacity cannot evacuate power efficiently, limiting renewable deployment.
  • Northeastern states, despite potential, face weak connectivity with the national grid.
• Policy and Institutional Ecosystem
  • States like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat have proactive RE policies, offering single-window clearance, ease of doing business, and stable PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements).
  • On the other hand, states with bureaucratic delays or regulatory uncertainty deter private investment.
• Financial Health of State Discoms
  • DISCOMs (Distribution Companies) in states like Punjab, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh face poor financial health, leading to delayed payments and unattractive tariffs.
  • This undermines investor confidence and reduces the bankability of RE projects.
• Social, Legal and Environmental Constraints
  • In tribal and forest areas (e.g., Odisha, Chhattisgarh), local resistance, environmental clearance hurdles, and land rights issues hamper project execution.
  • Legal disputes and public opposition (e.g., protests against wind farms in Maharashtra’s Konkan belt) further delay projects.

Government Interventions

• PM-KUSUM: For decentralized solar installations in rural areas.
• Green Energy Corridor: To improve inter-state RE transmission.
• Solar Park Scheme: Encourages RE hubs in underutilized regions.
• One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG): Aims to integrate RE globally and regionally.

Conclusion:

India’s goal of 500 GW non-fossil energy by 2030 hinges on addressing the regional imbalance in renewable energy (RE) deployment. To achieve energy equity, climate resilience, and sustainable development, India must adopt strategic infrastructure planning, offer fiscal incentives, and foster inter-state cooperation, aligned with SDG-7 (Clean Energy) and SDG-13 (Climate Action).