Blog – Renewable Energy In India

India with its 1,4 billion people, and becoming the most populated country in the world from 2023, is in real need of electricity. Historically it has been dependent on coal and gas, but with the growing middle class and large demand for electricity, at the same time as the world is moving towards a cleaner future, India is taking large steps towards a renewable electricity.

As one of the three giants of the future together with USA and China, India today is the world’s third largest consumer of electricity and also the third largest producer of renewable energy. India has committed itself for a goal of 450 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030. As of end 2021, it had a renewable energy capacity of about 150 GW. About 32 % is solar, 30% large hydro, 27% wind, and the rest a combination of biomass, nuclear and small hydropower.

Hydro

India has the world largest mountain-area Himalaya in the north, bordering mainly to Pakistan, China and Nepal. Throughout the years and still today, it is one of the most conflicted areas in the world. But at the same time, it is the source of many rivers including the holy river of Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus. The river system connected to these three is large, and had brought the opportunity for hydropower. There are also a few large hydro power stations in the south of Karnataka, in addition to smaller ones all over India

Solar

India has about 300 days of clear sunny weather every year and is a part of the “belt” which has the highest degree of solar irradiation This gives extremely good opportunities to develop the country as a global leading solar-power producer. Solar also provides the ability to generate power with short lead times. It helps to meet energy needs for power, heating and cooling in both rural and urban areas. This is essential, as parts of the country does not have an electric grid.

The National Institute of Solar Energy has assessed the Country’s solar potential of about 748 GW assuming 3% of the waste land area to be covered by Solar PV modules.

Wind

The focus and development of wind-based electricity in India, has significantly increased the last 10-20 years, and has a capacity of about 40 GW. Even though India is still early in the development of wind, it still is the fourth largest country globally when it comes to production, behind China, USA and Germany.

The government has calculated a potential capacity of about 700 GW at 120 meter above ground level, and it is expected to gain a fast traction in the coming years. Geographically, main opportunities is found in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Other

Biomass India has achieved the target of 10 GW of biomass power before 2022 with the present installed capacity of 10.17 GW.

India could produce green hydrogen of 15-20 GW installed capacity by 2030. For that, it will need to invest $4-5 billion in electrolysers, according to the India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A),