[Answered] India’s energy security demands fossil fuel conservation and regulatory reform. Examine how simplifying the energy regulatory system can be integrated with conservation efforts for a sustainable and secure energy future.

Introduction

India’s energy security today transcends traditional concerns of fossil fuel access. It now demands conservation, renewable expansion, and systemic regulatory reform to ensure a resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy transition.

India’s Two-Track Energy Pathway

India’s energy future lies at the intersection of two trajectories:

1. Fossil fuels: Coal, oil, and gas still account for over 75% of energy consumption.
2. Renewables: Solar, wind, hydro, and bio-energy collectively represent over 49% of installed electricity capacity (234 GW, 2024). Net Zero by 2070 and the target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 require conserving fossil fuels while accelerating renewable integration.

Conservation Efforts: Progress and Gaps

1. Demand Efficiency: India’s energy intensity (per unit of GDP) declined by 33% between 2005 and 2020 (MoEFCC, 2023). The Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency has helped industries reduce emissions while saving over 92 million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE).
2. Fuel Diversification: Import dependence reduced through increased procurement from countries like Russia, which now constitutes 35.1% of India’s crude import basket (up from 2.1% in 2021-22). Expansion of ethanol blending (12% in 2023 vs 1.5% in 2014) in petrol has saved foreign exchange and reduced carbon emissions.

Regulatory Hurdles in Renewable Expansion

1. While capacity has increased, the pace is slowing due to regulatory complexity, as per Team Lease RegTech, a 1 MW solar plant needs over 100 approvals, spanning 2,735 compliance obligations across 35 departments.

1. 60% of these still require physical submission and visits, raising transaction costs and investor fatigue. This maze stifles investments and delays projects, undermining the renewable energy sector’s contribution to energy security.

Integrating Regulatory Reform with Conservation

1. Digitisation and One-Stop Clearance: A unified digital portal for clearances, land records, and approvals — akin to ‘PM Gati Shakti’ in logistics — can reduce duplication and ensure transparency.
2. Standardisation and Decentralisation: Uniform technical standards and safety protocols across states can streamline compliance. Empowering State Renewable Energy Agencies (SREAs) with decision-making autonomy will foster localized, context-driven solutions.
3. Nodal Institutional Architecture: Establishing a Renewable Energy Regulatory Authority with overarching jurisdiction and executive accountability can coordinate across land, power, and environment departments.
4. Reforming Distribution and Storage Systems: Without synchronized development of interstate transmission lines, battery storage, and pricing mechanisms, renewable capacity remains underutilized. Spain’s 2023 blackout due to grid mismatch is a cautionary tale.
5. Convergence with Climate Commitments: Streamlining regulations will help India meet its Updated NDC (2022) targets: Reduce emissions intensity by 45% (from 2005 levels) by 2030. Generate 50% of electricity from non-fossil sources by 2030.

Political Will and Legacy Challenges

The fossil fuel sector is entrenched with legacy interests, but unlike geological constraints on hydrocarbons, regulatory reform is within government control.
Energy Atmanirbharta demands political resolve to break silos, eliminate friction, and champion green growth.

Conclusion

Energy security and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. Simplifying energy regulation, when aligned with fossil fuel conservation, can catalyze India’s transition to a clean, secure, and equitable energy future.