Can renewables meet the growing demand of more than 1 billion people in India?
3 years, 1 month ago

Can renewables meet the growing demand of more than 1 billion people in India?

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “When we are all increasing our ambition on climate actions, then the ambition on climate finance cannot remain the same.” open image in gallery Poonam Chaudhary recently bought her first house with an air conditioner, television sets and refrigerators, but she experiences frequent power cuts Ulka Kelkar, director of climate at World Resources Institute India, said Modi’s pledge this week sent a signal that India will require vast investments not only to deploy solar panels and wind farms, but also to purchase land, build energy storage, upgrade the national grid and build transmission lines – all while juggling skyrocketing demand for power. “It's not going to be easy.” Chaudhary’s home state of Rajasthan, a desert that gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year, embodies the potential of renewable energy in India. “Contrary to popular belief, renewables plus batteries are nowhere near cost-effective yet for India,” said Rahul Tongia, an energy expert at the Brookings Institution who developed carbontracker.in, a realtime tracker of India’s energy production. open image in gallery India is the world’s second-largest coal producer after China India’s government, hamstrung by an economy devastated by the coronavirus pandemic, will need to make massive upgrades to the country's creaking electricity grid to integrate the amount of renewable energy India will need.

India Energy Rajasthan Climate Renewable Energy Indian Power Coal Climate Finance Solar Need Washington Post Indians Chaudhary  energy  solar  rajasthan  meet  demand  billion  power  growing  need  chaudhary  indias  india  climate  renewables  coal

History of this topic

Experts lay down circularity plan for 7 key sectors in India to cut waste
6 days, 19 hours ago

Experts lay down circularity plan for 7 key sectors in India to cut waste

Hindustan Times  

Solar waste is expected to increase three times to reach 340 kt by 2030, analysis by India’s G20 Secretariat, Council on Energy Environment and Water, RMI, World Resources Institute along with authors from several think tanks said. “Unlocking India’s Circular Waste Economy Potential for Sustainability” captures how this waste can be utilised in seven key sectors including: solar panels, batteries, …

Data dive: Dark clouds hover over India’s solar story
1 week ago

Data dive: Dark clouds hover over India’s solar story

Live Mint  

Recent charges of bribery by a US government agency against the Adani Group and its leadership have cast an unexpected spotlight on the Solar Energy Corporation of India—until now a relatively unknown company run by the central government. Solar’s share of electricity generated from renewable sources has Widening gap Of the 66 GW of solar power capacity installed as of …

India’s renewable energy target may prove elusive without course correction
3 months, 1 week ago

India’s renewable energy target may prove elusive without course correction

Live Mint  

India’s energy transition will be centred around the use of solar photovoltaic technology for at least the next 25 years. Though this information is not yet available in the public domain, it is estimated that Solar Energy Corporation Of India and other RE implementing agencies have about 18GW of ‘unsold inventory.’ Discoms in India face three major difficulties: huge uncertainty …

Spain's Zelestra plans $5 bn investment to set up 10 GW green power capacity
3 months, 1 week ago

Spain's Zelestra plans $5 bn investment to set up 10 GW green power capacity

Live Mint  

New Delhi: Spain’s Zelestra plans to invest $5 billion in India to build 10GW of wind and solar power capacity by the end of the decade, a top executive said, doubling its previous target of achieving 5GW by 2026. The company, backed by private equity firm EQT, may also enter India’s lucrative commercial and industrial sector as part of the …

India has pushed hard for solar. But as its billions demand more power, coal always gets the call
4 months, 2 weeks ago

India has pushed hard for solar. But as its billions demand more power, coal always gets the call

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the midst of a monthslong reelection campaign this April when he took to social media to trumpet a “remarkable feat!” and a “historic milestone” for his country: crossing 1 billion metric tons of coal and lignite production. It was proof, Modi said, of India’s “commitment to ensuring a vibrant coal …

Decommissioning of coal-based plants and its ramifications
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Decommissioning of coal-based plants and its ramifications

Hindustan Times  

According to the International Energy Agency, the Indian power sector is the highest emitter of carbon dioxide. Coal The power sector being the largest emitter of CO2 has a key role to play if India wants to achieve its target of going net-zero by 2070. This will mean that we would need to move away from coal-based generation and adopt …

Coal to have significant place in India’s diversified energy basket: Eco Survey
5 months ago

Coal to have significant place in India’s diversified energy basket: Eco Survey

Hindustan Times  

India will target a diversified set of sources for energy security with a significant place for thermal power, including coal to provide base load, to minimise risks associated with systems while pursuing low-emission pathways in line with national commitments, said the 2023-24 Economic Survey Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled in Parliament on Monday. “This will also include a significant …

Rajasthan set to emerge as hub of solar power components with changes in renewable energy policy
5 months, 1 week ago

Rajasthan set to emerge as hub of solar power components with changes in renewable energy policy

The Hindu  

Rajasthan is set to emerge as the hub of assembling and manufacturing of solar power components following the changes made in the renewable energy policy for land allotment to the projects at concessional rates. The State Cabinet had earlier this month amended the renewable energy policy as well as the rules governing the allotment of land for renewable energy-based power …

India's solar output grows at slowest pace in six years in first half of 2024
5 months, 2 weeks ago

India's solar output grows at slowest pace in six years in first half of 2024

Hindustan Times  

By Sudarshan Varadhan and Cassandra Yap India's solar output grows at slowest pace in six years in first half of 2024 SINGORE, - India's solar power generation grew at the slowest pace in six years in the first half of 2024, an analysis of data from the federal grid regulator showed, as the country further stepped up reliance on coal …

India asks utilities to order $33 billion in equipment this year to boost coal power output, sources say
5 months, 2 weeks ago

India asks utilities to order $33 billion in equipment this year to boost coal power output, sources say

Hindustan Times  

By Sarita Chaganti Singh India asks utilities to order $33 billion in equipment this year to boost coal power output, sources say NEW DELHI - India has asked power companies to order equipment worth $33 billion this year to fast track capacity additions of coal-fired power in the years ahead, as the South Asian nation struggles to meet booming electricity …

Can India keep its net zero by 2070 promise?
5 months, 4 weeks ago

Can India keep its net zero by 2070 promise?

Hindustan Times  

What quantum of coal-based power generation capacity is under construction today? REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo When the CEA published its revised optimal generation mix report in April 2023, it projected a peak demand of 335 GW in 2029-30, and the required coal-based capacity was estimated at about 250 GW. Coal-based capacity existing when the CEA finalised its optimal mix report totalled …

India's coal dependence for power to be highest in nine years as heatwaves intensify
6 months ago

India's coal dependence for power to be highest in nine years as heatwaves intensify

Hindustan Times  

India will use more coal for generating electricity this year than it has in almost a decade, to cope with surging electricity demand, Bloomberg reported. Representational The country expects to add 15.4 gigawatts in the financial year 2024-25, the most in nine years, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Coal still generates about three-quarters of India’s electricity, and the …

More than 800 coal plants worldwide could be profitably decommissioned, research group says
6 months ago

More than 800 coal plants worldwide could be profitably decommissioned, research group says

The Hindu  

More than 800 coal-fired power plants in emerging countries could be decommissioned and profitably replaced by cleaner solar energy starting from the end of the decade, research on Monday showed. Though only a tenth of existing coal plants are scheduled to shut down by 2030, more could close if efforts are made to identify opportunities, the Institute for Energy Economics …

Green milestone: Share of coal in India’s total installed electricity capacity drops below 50%
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Green milestone: Share of coal in India’s total installed electricity capacity drops below 50%

Hindustan Times  

The share of coal in India’s total installed electricity capacity fell below 50% for the first time in history in 2023-24, according to a report released on Thursday, marking a crucial milestone in the country’s attempt to switch to clean energy. The report also found that renewable energy auctions reached a record 41 GW in fiscal year 2024, with eight …

Solar power potential in India has decreased over last three decades: Study
7 months, 4 weeks ago

Solar power potential in India has decreased over last three decades: Study

Hindustan Times  

A recent study has highlighted that with a decreased trend in solar radiations over most of the country, the solar power potential in India has decreased over the last three decades. The technical potential of solar power has a significant decreasing trend in most of the selected stations, which is alarming. As solar radiation intensity has been decreasing and there …

India Sees Highest Capacity of New Coal Projects Last Year Since 2016; Uttar Pradesh Surges Ahead
8 months, 1 week ago

India Sees Highest Capacity of New Coal Projects Last Year Since 2016; Uttar Pradesh Surges Ahead

News 18  

India introduced new coal proposals worth 11.4 GW in 2023 – in both the public and private sectors – more than in any year since 2016. While European Union member states and the UK represented roughly a quarter of retirements last year, the US only retired 9.7 GW of coal capacity – a slowdown compared to 14.7 GW retired in …

U.P. poised to unveil 182 renewable energy projects worth over ₹1.30 lakh cr
10 months, 1 week ago

U.P. poised to unveil 182 renewable energy projects worth over ₹1.30 lakh cr

Hindustan Times  

Lucknow: In a likely big push to sustainable development in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government’s groundbreaking ceremony here on Monday would unveil renewable energy projects worth more than ₹1.30 lakh crore, people in the know of things said. Of the total 182 renewable projects identified for the GBC, 42 projects worth ₹ 55,806 crore pertain to solar power. Of …

India’s clean energy boom slows as new solar projects get delayed. Experts say it can pick back up
10 months, 2 weeks ago

India’s clean energy boom slows as new solar projects get delayed. Experts say it can pick back up

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — For years, renewable projects in India have been growing steadily, from small-town rooftop solar installations to large-scale projects across the desert and long stretches of wind turbines and solar panels on farmland all contributing to the country’s climate goal of transitioning to clean energy. It takes up to two years for solar projects to come online after …

India's Energised Future: Major Hits for Renewable Energy in Interim Budget 2024
10 months, 3 weeks ago

India's Energised Future: Major Hits for Renewable Energy in Interim Budget 2024

The Quint  

With its staggering population of 1.4 billion, India faces an immense energy demand to fuel its rapidly expanding economy. With almost 50 per cent of its electricity capacity derived from non-fossil fuel origins, India is moving towards a country where sustainable energy sources are becoming prominent. The renewable energy landscape in India is diverse, featuring significant contributions from solar, wind, …

Coal power generation up 10.13% during April to December 2023
11 months ago

Coal power generation up 10.13% during April to December 2023

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The country’s coal-fired power generation showed significant growth of nearly 10.13% from April to December 2023 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. As per the coal ministry, the domestic coal-based power generation from April to December 2023 rose by 7.14% to 872 billion units, up from 813.9 BU generated in the corresponding period last year. …

Fired up and plugged in – Driving India’s energy security and decarbonisation this decade
11 months ago

Fired up and plugged in – Driving India’s energy security and decarbonisation this decade

The Hindu  

As India throttles to become the fastest-growing economy in the coming years, it will have to grow in the wake of a global agreement at COP-28 to phase down unabated coal. But to keep the economy powered while decarbonising, the country will have to use its existing assets better to cater to growing demand, while simultaneously limiting exposure to new …

India will continue to rely on coal power until it becomes developed country, says Bhupender Yadav
1 year ago

India will continue to rely on coal power until it becomes developed country, says Bhupender Yadav

The Hindu  

December 19, 2023 11:57 am | Updated 01:17 pm IST - New Delhi India is committed to meeting the energy needs of its people and will also have to rely on coal power until it achieves developed country status, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on December 19. Mr. Yadav said India “strongly resisted” the rich nations’ call for limitations …

India building world’s largest renewable energy project in salt deserts bordering Pakistan
1 year ago

India building world’s largest renewable energy project in salt deserts bordering Pakistan

Live Mint  

Rising from the bare expanse of the large salt desert that separates India from Pakistan is what will likely be the world's largest renewable energy project when completed three years from now. “There are people working here from all over India,” said KSRK Verma, Khavda project head for Adani Green Energy Limited, the renewable energy arm of the Adani Group, …

DC Edit | India can still be part of climate deal
1 year ago

DC Edit | India can still be part of climate deal

Deccan Chronicle  

It is surprising that India was not among the 118 nations that signed the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at the climate summit in Dubai to triple the installed renewable energy capacity by the turn of the decade. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out in his address to the summit during his flying visit, India may be the …

Coal isn’t easy to exclude from sustainable development | Explained
1 year, 1 month ago

Coal isn’t easy to exclude from sustainable development | Explained

The Hindu  

The world is highly dependent on fossil fuels, which produce 80% of the total energy supplied. According to Central Electricity Authority projections for FY 2031-2032, India’s national grid can absorb 924 TWh of electricity from various renewable energy sources by progressively adding 47 GW of battery storage capacity and 27 GW of pumped storage projects by FY 32. To balance …

Despite subsidies rooftop solar still too expensive: study
1 year, 1 month ago

Despite subsidies rooftop solar still too expensive: study

The Hindu  

India’s low uptake of rooftop solar systems – often touted as the pathway to clean, decentralised electricity –is largely due to limited electricity consumption and existing subsidies for coal-fired electricity that makes even subsidised solar power expensive, suggests the results of a first-of-its-kind study spanning 14,000 households across 21 states. Were all rooftops in India’s estimated 25-30 crore households to …

India will see solar revolution by 2030, says IEA
1 year, 1 month ago

India will see solar revolution by 2030, says IEA

Firstpost  

India has set a target of achieving 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil fuels, including around 270 GW of solar capacity, by 2030 According to the International Energy Agency, solar energy will generate 18% of India’s electricity by 2030, up from its current 6% share. According to the IEA’s latest World Energy Outlook 2023, which was released on Tuesday, …

NLC India plans ₹24,000 crore solar investment by 2030: CMD
1 year, 5 months ago

NLC India plans ₹24,000 crore solar investment by 2030: CMD

Live Mint  

New Delhi: State-run NLC India Ltd plans to set up a step-down subsidiary to operate its new-age renewable energy businesses, including battery storage. In an interview, Prasanna Kumar Motupalli, chairman and managing director of the company, said that after the recent incorporation of its green energy arm, NLC India Renewables Ltd, the company is exploring the option of setting up …

Business Matters | Why is the rising cost of coal-fired power plants good news for India?
1 year, 7 months ago

Business Matters | Why is the rising cost of coal-fired power plants good news for India?

The Hindu  

Why is the rising cost of coal-fired power plants good news for India? It said that achieving net zero – which India aims to reach by 2070 – will require adjustments to how people live, work, and move around—and some of these changes will be costly. First, India expects to increase investments in coal-fired power plants to help power economic …

How one village in Manipur, India is lighting the way in the green energy drive
1 year, 8 months ago

How one village in Manipur, India is lighting the way in the green energy drive

The Hindu  

Tucked away in the Himalayan foothills of northeast India and frequently battered by strong winds and landslides, the isolated village of Hengbung is well-accustomed to prolonged power cuts. But as renewable energy generation grows, particularly from solar power, energy storage is also needed to ensure the nation's grid remains stable around-the-clock and outages are avoided. Energy experts say that pumped-hydro …

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out
1 year, 8 months ago

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out

The Hindu  

For the second year in a row, India’s government has ordered the nation’s coal-fired power plants to run at full power. India “has to ensure there is energy security as this is critical for the country’s development and growth,” said Alok Kumar, the most senior official in India’s federal power ministry. “There is a strong political incentive to ensure regular …

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out
1 year, 8 months ago

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — For the second year in a row, India’s government has ordered the nation’s coal-fired power plants to run at full power. India “has to ensure there is energy security as this is critical for the country’s development and growth,” said Alok Kumar, the most senior official in India’s federal power ministry. “There is a strong political incentive …

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says
1 year, 9 months ago

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — If India stopped burning coal tomorrow, over five million people would lose their jobs. But for a price tag of around $900 billion over the next 30 years, the country can make sure nobody is left behind in the huge move to clean energy to curb human-caused climate change, according to figures released by New Delhi-based think …

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says
1 year, 9 months ago

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But for a price tag …

Analysis | India cheers the return of 'King Coal' as industry sees buoyant future
1 year, 9 months ago

Analysis | India cheers the return of 'King Coal' as industry sees buoyant future

The Hindu  

India's coal industry celebrated the return of its major conference after a three-year pandemic hiatus by presenting a bullish view of demand, rising supply from new mines and strong demand for imports. Increased output The reality is that India has successfully increased domestic coal output, with official government figures released last week showing production in the first 10 months of …

DC Edit | Green energy is way ahead for India, Germany, world
1 year, 9 months ago

DC Edit | Green energy is way ahead for India, Germany, world

Deccan Chronicle  

Aside from areas such as defence and trade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday agreed to strengthen the cooperation between the two nations on one of the most urgent topics of the day — green energy. increase renewables capacity to 500 GW from the present 157 GW which will meet 50 per cent of its …

India plans to export solar power: official
1 year, 10 months ago

India plans to export solar power: official

The Hindu  

By 2026, Indian industry will be able to manufacture solar modules worth 100 gigawatts annually, and help the country be a net exporter of solar power. The future phase of India’s renewable energy development will be led by hybrid projects and renewable energy parks that will host solar and wind projects along with battery storage systems. The travails of the …

Eight-fold rise seen in jobs in solar and wind energy sectors, says report
1 year, 10 months ago

Eight-fold rise seen in jobs in solar and wind energy sectors, says report

The Hindu  

India’s solar and wind energy sectors added 52,700 new workers in project development roles in the last financial year, an eight-fold increase from financial year 2021, according to a joint report by three think tanks on February 10. India’s solar and wind energy sectors employed 1,64,000 workers as of FY’22, showing a 47% increase from FY’21. Were these trends to …

Solar energy is not the best option for India
1 year, 10 months ago

Solar energy is not the best option for India

The Hindu  

The Hindu’s editorial, Energy conundrum, expressing caution about the country’s bubbling enthusiasm in the climate change agenda by going the whole hog on solar energy is timely but spartan, and needs amplification. Apart from the external pressure that is pushing India more and more into the so-called carbon limiting renewable energy path, the Prime Minister’s own enthusiasm and support and …

Clean energy gains a foothold in India, but coal still rules
1 year, 11 months ago

Clean energy gains a foothold in India, but coal still rules

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — For six years, Pravinbhai Parmar’s farm in Gujarat state in western India has been lined with rice, wheat and solar panels. But livelihoods powered by clean energy are major outliers in the country that’s the third-largest emitter of planet-warming gases in the world, and last year announced its biggest-ever auction for coal mines. Coal’s share in producing …

India expects utilities' annual coal demand to surge about 8% after renewables shortfall
1 year, 11 months ago

India expects utilities' annual coal demand to surge about 8% after renewables shortfall

The Hindu  

India expects its power plants to burn about 8% more coal in the fiscal year ending March 2024, according to a senior government official and a Power Ministry presentation, after the country missed its 2022 renewable-energy goal by more than 30%. India expects utilities' coal demand to reach 821 million tonnes in 2023-24, according to the presentation. India is expected …

Only one-fourth of sanctioned solar power projects took off, says Minister
2 years ago

Only one-fourth of sanctioned solar power projects took off, says Minister

The Hindu  

The Union government has so far sanctioned the development of solar projects with a capacity of nearly 39,000 MW but only a fourth have actually been commissioned so far, reveal figures presented by R.K. Singh, Minister for New and Renewable Energy, at the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Under the ‘Scheme for Development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Power …

India’s power units binge on coal, outpace Asia
2 years, 1 month ago

India’s power units binge on coal, outpace Asia

The Hindu  

India's coal-fired power output has increased much faster than any other country in the Asia Pacific since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the challenges the world's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter faces in weaning its economy off of carbon. India's coal-fired power output increased more than 10% year-on-year from March to October to 757.82 terawatt hours, an analysis of government data …

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr | No easy ‘green’ solutions for coal-carbon dilemma
2 years, 1 month ago

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr | No easy ‘green’ solutions for coal-carbon dilemma

Deccan Chronicle  

India’s carbon emissions in 2022 are six per cent compared to the United States’ 1.5 per cent, according to the Global Carbon Budget, released at COP27, the climate conference now underway at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. US treasury secretary Janet Yellen had announced during her recent visit to New Delhi last week a $500 million solar facility in Tamil Nadu …

India saved $4.2 billion in fuel costs through solar power: Report
2 years, 1 month ago

India saved $4.2 billion in fuel costs through solar power: Report

Live Mint  

An amount of USD 4.2 billion has been saved by India in fuel costs through solar power generation in the first half of 2022, and 19.4 million tonnes of coal which would have further stressed an already strained domestic supply, news agency PTI quoted a report released on Thursday. Seven key Asian countries, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, …

India’s energy future is looking green, report says
2 years, 2 months ago

India’s energy future is looking green, report says

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — India’s renewables sector is booming, with the country projected to add 35 to 40 gigawatts of renewable energy annually until 2030, enough to power up to 30 million more homes each year, a report said Thursday. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and Climate Energy Finance estimated that India, the third largest energy-consuming country in …

India meets two-thirds of renewable energy target, says report
2 years, 3 months ago

India meets two-thirds of renewable energy target, says report

The Hindu  

‘22% rise in solar installations in Jan-Aug 2022’ India has so far installed 66% of its targeted renewable energy installation of 175 GW with only Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Telangana meeting State-wise targets, according to a report on Thursday by global energy thinktank Ember. While India may not reach 175 GW by the end of 2022, its 2030 targets of …

Decarbonising Odisha’s Largest Coalfield Reserve In Angul Is A Herculean Task
2 years, 3 months ago

Decarbonising Odisha’s Largest Coalfield Reserve In Angul Is A Herculean Task

The Quint  

A New Delhi-based think tank– iForest recently conducted a survey on the just transition challenge in Angul. ‘Just Transition’ refers to energy transition in any area from fossil fuel-based energy like coal to clean energy, by ensuring justice to the communities involved in livelihoods that produce polluting sources of energy. The study that followed the survey stated that the coal …

Can Bhel adapt to India’s clean energy transition?
2 years, 3 months ago

Can Bhel adapt to India’s clean energy transition?

Live Mint  

In 1964, when it was established, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd was seen as crucial to the future of a country that needed to industrialize quickly. “Bhel created the power equipment manufacturing capacity when it was virtually non-existent in the country,” said former Union power secretary Anil Razdan. “Companies primarily catering to the fossil-fuel industry must reengineer their business models to …

India’s Energy-Environment Catch-22
2 years, 4 months ago

India’s Energy-Environment Catch-22

The Diplomat  

Rani, a domestic worker in New Delhi, travels 10-15 kilometers every day from her cramped urban slum in Goyla Dairy, Najafgarh, to high rise buildings in Dwarka. While India plans to reach carbon neutral status by 2070, extreme weather events like the recent heatwaves keep pushing India’s energy sector to depend on traditional coal in the absence of enough renewable …

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