| Introduction: Describe India’s renewable energy targets. Body: What are the challenges faced in achieving those targets? Conclusion: What should be the way forward? |
The government has set an ambitious goal of installing 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, including the installation of 280 GW of solar power and 140 GW of wind power, to usher in a renewable energy transition in the nation. Other targets as spelled out by Government includes, 50% of the country’s energy requirements being met using renewable energy sources by 2030. The country will reduce the total projected carbon emission by one billion tonnes between now and the year 2030. The carbon intensity of the economy would be reduced to less than 45% by 2030. And finally, the country would become carbon neutral and achieve net zero emissions by the year 2070.
What are the challenges faced by India to achieve its targets?
- Misplaced priorities: Evidence from past data suggests that the renewable energy industry needs incentives for green financing, enabling policy mechanisms to attract consumers and regular grid upgrades. Instead, the focus of the government is on installation and setting new targets.
- High Import Taxes: Industry experts have argued that high import taxes on the components and the requirement of mandatory domestic sourcing of solar panels to boost the affordable supply of key components have been significant barriers to achieving the targets.
- Infrastructure: Government also needs to modify its power infrastructure to enable highly renewable energy projects to function at their full capacity.
- Slow Tendering Process: India needs to address the issue of slow and below tendering to meet its targets. There has been a low supply of modules from China, high tariffs in the form of high custom duty, and slow installation of panels due to the imposition of the ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) which is a list of solar cell and module types and manufacturers in India that have been certified by the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) and boost manufacturing in India has led to India missing the targets.
- Global issues: India’s ambitious targets are also derailed due to the volatile global environment in the event of Ukraine Russia war, supply chain issues, and higher financing costs on account of the COVID pandemic.
- Protectionism: There has been debate about the intended benefits of atmanirbharta to boost local manufacturing which has led to import barriers and has shifted focus to local production while neglecting innovation and productivity.
Conclusion:
There needs to proactive consideration from the government in addressing these issues and streamlining procedures, and reducing red-tapism from bureaucracy while implementing the e-tendering process and sourcing supplies from local and international partners.
