THE SCRAMBLE FOR GREEN ENERGY.

Global headwinds including inflation, war and geopolitical tensions, recession, tightening policies and climate change forced energy  importing countries to struggle much to overcome supply disruptions of energy and fuels.Consequently the  soaring prices have caused havoc in many economies and forced millions of people back into both poverty and energy insecurity. Global energy related CO2 emissions also rose by a record level in  2021. It may be noted here that historically the first energy transition took place from wood to coal in the 18th century and  19th century is known as the "Century of coal ".Eventhough oil was discovered in 1859 oil overtook coal only in 1960s as the prominent energy source.Oil natural gas and coal markets all tightened in the latter part of 2021 increasing prices as demand pushed against apparently insufficient supply. 

                India resolved to become Net Zero by 2070 and meet half of country's  power needs from renewable energy sources by 2030 and reduce total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes in the same period. India is set to achieve about half of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non fossil based energy resources by 2030 in which the private sector is expected to play a greater role At the global level as observed by UN chief Antonio Guterres businesses as well as cities and regions should update their voluntary net pledges within a year so as to comply with the recommendations of UN experts. India has decided to achieve green energy which is clean, sustainable and renewable. The production and use of Green energy do not release toxic greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere. Green energy is Synonymous with renewable energy. Important Green energy sources include power generated from solar, wind,geothermal, bio gas,low impact hydro electricity and certain eligible bio mass sources. India is the third largest energy consuming  country in the world  with about 80% of demand is still met by coal oil and solid biomass. .As an impetus to the push towards renewable energy and the drive toward net Zero carbon emissions become stronger but certain challenges emerged. 1.Lack of consensus on how fast the transition should and can take place especially in the midst of potential economic disruptions. 2.Sharp divide between advanced and developing economies on priorities in the transition and 3.Obstacles to expanding mining and building supply chains for the minerals needed for meeting net zero objective. 

To achieve  Green energy transition in 2019 India decided to take up its installed capacity of renewable energy to 450 GW by 2030.Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme of the Government that include initiatives to enhancing the production of inputs/ raw materials required for renewable energy. The PM -KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Surasha evam UtthaanMahabhiyan)is designed to provide financial and water security to farmers through harnessing solar energy capacities of 25750MW by 2022.Other measures include-solarisation of water pumps,Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Gar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA),Green Energy Corridor (GEC )National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) and Smart Meter National Programme, Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &)Electric Vehicles (FAME) and International Solar Alliance (ISA).It  may be recalled here that during COP 27 high level meeting India along with UK took initiative to the project " One Sun, One World, One Grid for Seamless Energy" associated with Government Group Initiative called Green Grid Initiative (GGI) to meet reforms to infrastructure and market structure needed for energy transition across continents and countries to be launched. In fact massive investments  in clean energy  comprising of energy efficiency renewables, electrification, and a range of clean fuels is not only the best guarantee for energy security but also to mitigate harmful greenhouse gas emissions.Accordingly major stakeholders like Government and business sector should wisely invest and reap dividends by appropriate technology incentives and also by appropriate monitoring of the projects by Government. 

Under National Solar Mission Government has set the target of 100 GW of installed solar power in the country by 2022.The Scheme for development of Solar Parks and Ultra Mega Solar Parks was rolled out on 12-22-2014 with aggregate capacity of 20000MW.Solar power project of 20MWac/50MWp at Phyang Leh,J&K under PMDP,Solarisation of Sun temple towns of Mehsana and Konark and energy park at Kutch Gujarat .Various Solar Park schemes and Grids were meticulously planned to achieve transition to renewable and green energy.Renewable energy mix comprise of Solar, Green Hydrogen,wind,bio power,hydel and nuclear power.India was to have installed 500 GW of renewable energy from solar, wind, bio mass and small hydro power sources by December 2022 as against only installed  was just 62 GW.India has been depending Chinese made components such as polysilicon wafers necessary to make modules in solar power. India decided to discourage cheap imports from China by  imposing 40% and 25% duties on solar panels and cells respectively as against 0% duties on Silicon Wafers which is very much crucial to India. It is significant to note that together with solar panel and Wafers China account for 97% of global production. We need 30-40 GW for our domestic purpose annually and the rest can be exported.we are attempting to manufacture ingots and Wafers in India which is necessary for future health of solar eco system in India. Central Government is planning to introduce emissions trading schemes by June giving energy efficiency targets and companies that exceed the target will get "credits" or certificates that they can bank or sell where the Bureau of Energy  Efficiency (BEE) under power Ministry will be the nodal coordinator. Similarly roof top solar for poverty alleviation provides intervention to aid poverty alleviation by converting sunlight falling on rooftops and courtyards into incomes for households.Last year 100% Solarisation of the village Madhera in Mehsana Gujarat has demonstrated the transformation potential of rooftop solar in an Indian village.As per Union Budget 2023-24 National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of rupees 19700 crore will facilitate transition of the economy to low carbon intensity, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports . Budget also provides rupees 35000 crore for priority capital investments towards energy transition, energy security and net zero objectives.Wind power generation capacity of India has significantly increased and as on December 2022 total installed wind power capacity was 41.93 GW, which is the 4th largest in the world.Similarly India has a total of 13,34,385 Electric Vehicles in India According to e-Vahan portal.

  The road towards Green Renewable energy required concerted effort for scaling up deployment of renewable energy technologies and investing in clean energy innovation.Recently China amended it's rules to ban the export of several core solar panel technologies in order to maintain its market leadership with largest share in the sector and Chinese firms producing bigger, thinner and smarter wafers  which reduces the cost of solar power by 90% . While India traditionally were dependent on China for components like poly silicon wafers necessary to make modules, the trade restrictions imposed are adversely affecting. It may be recalled here that despite Centre commissioning 57 large Solar Parks in recent years with a capacity of 40GW only 10GW is operationalised.In India we have not so far manufactured poly silicon wafers.Hence our immediate task is to make equivalent manufactured components more competitive at the earliest and avoid the bumpiness in renewable Green energy development. In fact, encouraging more research and development activities leading to development of advanced green technologies  and incentives under PLI scheme can go a long way in Green energy transition in India.