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Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Explained: Tracking India's climate goals
India has said that non-fossil fuel sources now account for more than 50 per cent of its installed electricity generation capacity. This means one of the main promises that the country had made, as part of its international climate commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement, has been achieved five years ahead of schedule. Government data released last week showed that installed electricity capacity had reached 484.82 GW at the end of June, of which 242.78 GW was being contributed by sources such as large hydropower, nuclear, and renewable energies like wind and solar. Attainment of 50 per cent share of non-fossil sources in the installed electricity capacity was one of the three climate targets India had set for itself for 2030. The other two promises were: reducing its emissions intensity, or emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP), by at least 45 per cent from 2005 levels; and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from forest and tree cover. The target of creating an additional carbon sink is likely to be achieved this year, if not already achieved, though official data on that are yet to be released. There is good progress on the third target as well. Dependence on renewables The 50 per cent share of non-fossil sources in installed electricity capacity has been achieved through rapid growth in renewable energy in the last couple of years, particularly in solar energy. For instance, in 2024, almost 30 GW of renewable energy was installed, the maximum for any year. Of this, solar energy stood at nearly 24 GW. While this is impressive, China has been adding 10 times more renewable capacity for the last two years. India aims to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity by 2030. This is also a stated climate objective for India, though not an official target it has committed itself to. However, for it to materialise, significant contributions need to come from nuclear power as well. Many of the 10 nuclear reactors that India is currently building are expected to become operational during this timeframe, doubling the current capacity to about 17 GW by 2030. The Bharat Small Modular Reactors that India is developing are unlikely to fructify during this time. As a result, renewables would continue to form the bulk of new capacity additions from non-fossil fuel sources in the coming years. Capacity vs generation The 50 per cent share of non-fossil fuels in installed capacity does not mean half of India's electricity is clean. Electricity generation from renewable sources is intermittent and dependent on timing, seasonality, and climate. As such, the share of non-fossil fuels in electricity generation is lower than its share in installed capacity. Data from the Central Electricity Authority show that in May, non-fossil fuel sources, including large hydro and nuclear, accounted for 28 per cent of electricity generation in India. Electricity itself forms a small part of the energy basket. Less than 22 per cent of India's total energy consumption is done in the form of electricity. The rest happens through direct burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. Therefore, electricity forms about 22 per cent of India's total energy consumption, and non-fossil fuel sources account for about 28 per cent of electricity generation. This means clean energy from non-fossil fuel sources accounts for just about 6 per cent of India's total energy consumption. That might seem measly, but it is actually on par with the global average. Progress on forestry target Fresh data are yet to come in, but it is likely that India has already fulfilled its promise of adding 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon sink to the 2005 stock. According to official data, also submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), about 2.29 billion tonnes of additional sink had already been created by 2021. The India State of the Forest Report (ISFR) — the most authoritative official record of the state of forests and trees in the country — showed that India's carbon stock had grown by about 150 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent every year on average between 2017 and 2021. The next edition of ISFR, due later this year, will have data till 2023. If the trend continues, and another about 300 million tonnes CO2 equivalent of sink is added between 2021 and 2023, India's carbon stock would have surpassed the lower end of the 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes target. This would mean that the forestry target would have also been achieved well ahead of the 2030 deadline. Emissions intensity There is less information on the progress being made on the emissions intensity target. India has said that it will ensure its emissions per unit of GDP would decline at least 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. The latest data on emissions intensity are from 2020. By that time, India had already reduced it by 36 per cent from 2005 levels. There are no good estimates of emission intensity reductions after that, but considering India's progress so far, the 45 per cent reduction goal by 2030 is likely to be achieved comfortably. That India will achieve all its three climate targets was never in doubt. In fact, it is in the process of achieving them two times over. The original targets, set in 2015, were achieved by 2022 itself, allowing India to set revised targets. Those also are being achieved now. The international climate architecture, governed by the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement, allows countries to set their own climate targets. Not surprisingly, most countries have set modest targets for themselves. But even then, many developed countries have struggled to deliver on their promises, not just on emission reductions but also on climate finance. India has said that it can do much more if it gets international finance and technology that it is entitled to under the provisions of the Paris Agreement.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Centre to assess green nod for Etalin dam in Arunachal, days after China breaks ground on world's largest hydel project
An expert panel of the Union environment ministry is slated to consider next week environmental clearance for the 3,087-MW Etalin hydel project in Dibang valley, Arunachal Pradesh, days after China officially kick-started work on the world's largest hydroelectric project (of 60 gigawatt) on the Yarlung Zangbo river upstream of India. The ministry on June 20 granted in-principle approval for the diversion of 1,175 hectares of prime forest land in Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, for the Etalin project. The forest area is classified as subtropical pine forest, wet evergreen, semi-evergreen, montane wet temperate, and moist alpine scrub. The area is also home to wide-ranging biodiversity of wildlife and plants. The forest area to be used is largely community-owned, and 2.7 lakh trees will be axed. Etalin has been proposed as a run-of-the-river project on the Dri and Talo rivers, involving the construction of concrete gravity dams to divert water through two separate waterway systems. A run-of-the-river project involves negligible or no water storage. The Dri and Talo rivers are tributaries of the Dibang river, which feeds into Brahmaputra's waters. China's project has raised concerns that it will affect the water regime and security in the Brahmaputra basin downstream. The Central Electricity Authority has concurred on 13 hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh, with a total planned installed capacity of 13,798 MW, as per the Union power ministry's reply to the Lok Sabha on April 3. Besides, the Subansiri Lower, Dibang multipurpose, and Lower Kopli (Assam) projects are under construction, totalling a planned capacity of 5,000 MW. The project developer, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd, has placed the project proposal for clearance before the environment ministry's expert appraisal committee (EAC) on river valley and hydroelectric sector. The EAC recommended the project for environmental clearance in 2017. However, since the in-principle forest clearance was received only last month, the committee will appraise the project again. This is based on clarifications issued by the ministry in three office memorandums regarding the process to be followed if forest clearance is given over three years after a proposal was initially recommended for environmental clearance. The ministry's office memorandums state that if the data collected for the preparation of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report is over three years old, the proposal has to be referred back to the EAC for a relook. An EIA report is a detailed pre-clearance study that assesses a project's impact on environmental, wildlife, ecology and communities likely to be impacted. The Etalin project's EIA report dates back to 2015. 'In such a situation, the EAC may get fresh data collected and, based on that and after due diligence, either reiterate its earlier recommendations or decide to reappraise the project proposal on valid grounds, as the case may be,' as per three previous office memorandums of the environment ministry. As far as a fresh public hearing is concerned, the ministry's expert panel can ask for a fresh one to be conducted as well as seek additional documents and information. In 2022, the environment ministry's forest advisory committee rejected forest approval for the Etalin project and asked for a fresh proposal on account of wildlife and biodiversity concerns. '18 villages and 216 households to be affected' SJVN has submitted baseline data from December 2024 for the winter season and April 2025 for the pre-monsoon period, documents submitted to the ministry show. 'To ensure that outdated baseline data does not hinder the EAC in reiterating its recommendation, fresh baseline data has been collected for two seasons and compared with the data collected in 2012,' the company said in documents filed with the ministry. SJVN has submitted an addendum to the 2015 EIA report and environment management plan for the committee's consideration. Eighteen villages and 216 households will be affected due to land acquisition for the project, as per this new submission. If approved, the Etalin project will be the largest run-of-the-river hydroelectric project in India. Even though the Upper Siang storage-based hydel project will be more massive, with a proposed capacity of 10,000 MW, it is yet to take off with a pre-feasibility report under preparation amid strong local protests on displacement concerns. An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
India's Record Renewables Rollout Moves It Closer to 2030 Goal
India's renewable installations saw record growth in the first half of 2025, giving fresh momentum to its 2030 clean energy goal. The country added 22 gigawatts of capacity during the six months through June, 56% more than a year earlier, according to data from the government's Central Electricity Authority.
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Indian clean energy capacity rises to 50% but where's the power coming from?
Renewable and clean energy now account for half of India's energy production capacity. Renewables, hydro, and nuclear together accounted for 37 per cent of the installed capacity, while thermal power had a 63 per cent share at the start of has obviously improved in the last half decade. But while clean energy now accounts for 50 per cent of the capacity, is the power generated also 50 per cent of the total power?advertisementRenewable energy accounted for 23 per cent of the overall installed capacity in 2020. This rose to 27 per cent in 2022, 31 per cent in 2024, and 38 per cent by July 14 this year, according to the Central Electricity Authority. The shares of hydro and nuclear power have broadly remained unchanged in the last five years. CAPACITY UPTICK! The capacity addition of renewable energy rose by 111 per cent from 87.7 GW in July 2020 to 184.6 GW in July 2025. The second-highest growth in capacity addition was realised in nuclear power, which grew by 30 per cent from 6.8 GW to 8.8 GW in these five years. The capacity of hydro energy grew by 8.1 per cent, while that of thermal rose by five per cent. Thermal energy now accounts for only 50 per cent of overall capacity in India but it accounted for 85 per cent of power generated between April 1 and July 14 this year. In contrast, renewable with an installed capacity share of 38 per cent, accounted for only one per cent of the power produced. Nuclear energy made its space between renewables and thermal by producing four per cent power with only two per cent share in the overall capacity. NUCLEAR POWER IS KEYNuclear plants are mostly concentrated in the western and southern parts of the country. But that's changing. Union Minister Manohar Lal visited the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP) in June to review the progress of the nuclear power project. Bihar too may see its first nuclear plant under the country's new Nuclear Energy Union Minister Jitendra Singh said in February that the nuclear mission announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 will mark a transformative shift in India's energy landscape and will enable nuclear power to emerge as a major source of energy in Union Budget 2025-26 allocated Rs 20,000 crore for the research and development of small modular reactors, targeting at least five indigenously designed operational SMRs by is in-line with the country's target of 100 GW nuclear power capacity by 2047. The government aims to expand India's nuclear power capacity from 8.2 GW now to 22.48 GW by 2032.- Ends
Mint
14-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Non-fossil sources now supply 50% power to India's national grid
New Delhi: India's non-fossil power generation has reached 50% of the overall installed power capacity well before the deadline, the Union ministry of new and renewable energy said on Monday. The milestone has been achieved five years prior to the committed timeline of 2030 under India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. The total non-fossil capacity has reached 242.8GW, half of the total installed capacity of 484.8GW, showed data from the ministry. The non-fossil capacity includes 184.62GW of renewable power, 49.38GW of large hydro projects and 8.78GW of nuclear power capacity. Taking to social media platform 'X', the union minister for new and renewable energy Pralhad Joshi said: "In a world seeking climate solutions, India is showing the way. Achieving 50% non-fossil fuel capacity five years ahead of the 2030 target is a proud moment for every Indian." "Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji's leadership continues to drive Bharat's green transformation—paving the path towards a self-reliant and sustainable future," he added. The development gains significance in the backdrop of the government's target to install a total of 500GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon emission by 2070. The ministry statement said that India's progress assumes greater significance in the global context and despite having one of the lowest per capita emissions globally, India remains among the few G20 countries that are on track to meet—or even exceed—their NDC commitments. "At international platforms such as the G20 and the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, India has consistently advocated for climate equity, sustainable lifestyles, and low-carbon development pathways. By achieving the 50% non-fossil milestone well ahead of schedule, India further reinforces its leadership as a clean energy frontrunner, demonstrating that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand," the ministry said. The ministry said artificial intelligence (AI) is set to emerge as the backbone of India's future energy infrastructure. AI will play a central role in demand forecasting, predictive maintenance, automated grid management, and system efficiency enhancement, it said, adding that with AI-driven platforms, rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and smart meters will function within intelligent energy marketplaces, enabling consumers to become active energy producers—so-called 'prosumers'. Demand forecasting is key as India has been witnessing record demand in the past three years. In May last year, the country's peak power demand touched 250GW, the highest ever. It is expected to hit 270GW this year. However, amid early onset of monsoons this year, demand has not hit new highs so far. In February, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) issued an advisory on co-locating energy storage systems with solar power projects to enhance the cost efficiency and stability of the grid. With the solar and wind being intermittent sources of energy, they may impact grid stability. With these concerns in sight, the government is also making efforts to boost energy storage systems in the country.
