The use of fossil fuels for energy has been on the decline due to its limited availability & non-sustainability for the environment. But in the context of India, the aggressive push for alternate sources of energy also becomes important due to the rise of massive industrialization, focus on climate change, and limitations on the use of fossil fuels. But, the government’s sensible and visionary policy implementation not only saved India from the mass power crisis but also made the nation one of the best countries in the world to adopt a green source of energy.
Renewable push saved India from darkness
India is currently fighting a two swords war. On one hand, the reduction of global coal supply is putting pressure on coal-based power plants, and on the other, the rise of demand for power is almost forcing India to frequent power cuts. But despite a 23.5% growth in power demand, India continues to cater to it through other sources of energy.
The current installed generation capacity of power is 399497 Megawatts. Of which 59.1% comes from fossil fuel and 40.9% comes from non-fossil fuels. Further, out of 40.9% of fossil fuels, 27.5% come from Wind, Solar & Other Renewable Energy.
| Installed GENERATION CAPACITY(FUELWISE) AS ON 31.03.2022 (Sources – Ministry of Power) | ||
| CATEGORY | INSTALLED GENERATION CAPACITY(MW) | % of SHARE IN Total |
| Fossil Fuel | ||
| Coal | 2,04,080 | 51.1% |
| Lignite | 6,620 | 1.7% |
| Gas | 24,900 | 6.3% |
| Diesel | 510 | 0.1% |
| Total Fossil Fuel | 2,36,109 | 59.1% |
| Non-Fossil Fuel | ||
| RES (Incl. Hydro) | 1,56,608 | 39.2% |
| Hydro | 46,723 | 11.7 % |
| Wind, Solar & Other RE | 1,09,885 | 27.5 % |
| Wind | 40,358 | 10.1 % |
| Solar | 53,997 | 13.5 % |
| BM Power/Cogen | 10,206 | 2.6 % |
| Waste to Energy | 477 | 0.1 % |
| Small Hydro Power | 4,849 | 1.2 % |
| Nuclear | 6,780 | 1.7% |
| Total Non-Fossil Fuel | 1,63,388 | 40.9% |
| Total Installed Capacity (Fossil Fuel & Non-Fossil Fuel) | 3,99,497 | 100% |
Read More: With gasification of coal, India takes a step ahead toward clean energy
Key changes brought
Stimulating policies along with the UNFCCC’s (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), India brought overhaul changes in the energy consumption as well as production that helped to fight the dual sword problem.
The change in the pattern of energy consumption comes with the government’s Ujala Scheme under which the government distributed 37 crores LED bulbs due to which, India saved around 48 kWh energy per year which ultimately helped in saving the cost of energy, the demand of energy as well as a reduction on Carbon Dioxide per year.
Another overhaul change in the energy consumption was brought about by the government’s push for hybrid & electric technologies in vehicles under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric & Hybrid Vehicle) scheme. The scheme was supported by the government’s incentives as well as technological research. Most of the public vehicle was brought on the use of electricity which ultimately helped in reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Read More: The challenges that lie ahead for the EV sector
The other change was brought in the renewable production of energy. Through the National Solar Mission, the government brought easy and affordable production of energy. Moreover, collaborating with the international payers, India launched an International Solar Alliance to support its domestic policy of alternate energy. The result of the mission was that currently, solar (13.5%) forms the second-largest source of power in India after coal (51.1%).
In a way, the government used both consumptions as well as production methods to fight the energy problem. It was the strategic follow-up of policies and schemes that saved India from going into the ‘darkness’. It is also predicted that year on year; energy demand is rising fast, so diversion of sources of energy, especially renewable, will be key to coping with the problem.
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