{"id":374897,"date":"2026-11-02T21:04:14","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T15:34:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=374897"},"modified":"2026-11-02T21:04:14","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T15:34:14","slug":"an-energy-revolution-in-the-making","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/an-energy-revolution-in-the-making\/","title":{"rendered":"An energy revolution in the making"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 3- <\/strong>Infrastructure<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/h2>\n

India<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s renewable energy transition <\/strong>is reshaping its energy system as electricity demand rises and climate commitments grow. Solar capacity has expanded rapidly, costs have fallen, and government support, private investment and technological progress have accelerated adoption. Beyond adding clean power, this shift is promoting decentralised generation, domestic manufacturing, employment and innovation. Its long-term success depends on financing, energy storage, stronger grids and skilled workers.<\/p>\n

Current Status of Renewable Energy in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Renewable Energy Capacity: <\/strong>India\u2019s renewable energy capacity, excluding large hydropower, reached approximately 204 GW<\/strong> by late 2025, recording around 26% year-on-year growth<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  2. Solar Energy Expansion: <\/strong>Solar capacity increased from 2.8 GW in 2014<\/strong> to approximately 171 GW in 2026<\/strong>, reflecting rapid growth in solar power adoption.<\/li>\n
  3. Recent Capacity Addition: <\/strong>India added around 35 GW of solar capacity in 2025<\/strong>, indicating the growing contribution of solar energy to the power sector.<\/li>\n
  4. Solar Power Cost: <\/strong>Solar power tariffs declined from around \u20b98 per unit<\/strong> in 2014\u201315 to \u20b92.15 per unit<\/strong> in the cited comparison, improving solar energy\u2019s affordability and competitiveness.<\/li>\n
  5. Decentralised Solar Energy: <\/strong>Rooftop solar adoption is expanding through household installations, while solar pumps and other decentralised systems<\/strong> are extending renewable energy access to rural areas.<\/li>\n
  6. Domestic Manufacturing: <\/strong>India\u2019s solar manufacturing base has expanded, with reported solar module manufacturing capacity exceeding 225 GW<\/strong> and solar cell capacity around 45 GW<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Major Government Initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: <\/strong>The scheme promotes residential rooftop solar installations. More than 24 lakh households had adopted rooftop solar under the scheme by late 2025..<\/li>\n
    2. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM): <\/strong>The scheme promotes solar pumps and decentralised solar power in agriculture. More than 30 lakh standalone solar pumps<\/strong> have reportedly been installed, supporting clean energy adoption and reducing reliance on conventional electricity and diesel pumps.<\/li>\n
    3. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: <\/strong>The scheme supports domestic manufacturing of high-efficiency solar photovoltaic modules<\/strong>, strengthening local production and reducing import dependence.<\/li>\n
    4. Solar Manufacturing Policy Support: <\/strong>Customs-duty exemptions and related measures have supported capital-goods manufacturing, although exemptions do not cover every input. Such measures can complement production incentives in building domestic supply chains<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
    5. National Green Hydrogen Mission: <\/strong>The mission seeks to develop India\u2019s green hydrogen ecosystem<\/strong>, promote electrolyser manufacturing and support industrial decarbonisation.<\/li>\n
    6. Green Energy Corridor (GEC): <\/strong>The initiative strengthens transmission infrastructure to integrate renewable electricity into the grid. The cited Phase III allocation is approximately \u20b950,000 crore<\/strong>; this supports grid development and should not be mistaken for the full cost of storage or all renewable integration needs.<\/li>\n
    7. Green Finance Taxonomy: <\/strong>A green finance taxonomy can classify environmentally sustainable activities, improve transparency<\/strong> and help direct investment towards credible clean-energy projects.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Global Cooperation<\/strong><\/h2>\n
        \n
      1. International Solar Alliance (ISA): <\/strong>Launched jointly by India and France in 2015, the ISA promotes cooperation in solar deployment, financing, capacity-building and technology sharing.<\/li>\n
      2. G20 Cooperation: <\/strong>At the 2023 G20 Summit, leaders agreed to work towards tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030<\/strong>, strengthening international momentum for the energy transition.<\/li>\n
      3. BRICS Cooperation: <\/strong>The New Delhi Declaration supported the Solar Photovoltaic Cooperation Roadmap<\/strong>, encouraging collaboration in solar energy, smart grids and energy storage.<\/li>\n
      4. International Investment and Technology Transfer: <\/strong>Partnerships can help mobilise capital<\/strong>, improve access to technology<\/strong> and strengthen renewable energy supply chains.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Significance of Renewable Energy Expansion<\/strong><\/h2>\n
          \n
        1. Energy Security: <\/strong>Renewable energy can reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels<\/strong>, limit exposure to global energy-price volatility and strengthen India\u2019s energy security.<\/li>\n
        2. Environmental Sustainability: <\/strong>Replacing fossil-fuel-based electricity with renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution<\/strong>, supporting India\u2019s climate commitments.<\/li>\n
        3. Employment Generation: <\/strong>Renewable energy creates jobs<\/strong> in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, research and development. Rooftop solar also generates local work in surveying, design, installation and servicing, while creating opportunities for women<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
        4. Rural Development: <\/strong>Solar pumps and decentralised power systems can improve energy access<\/strong>, support agricultural activities and promote livelihood opportunities in rural areas.<\/li>\n
        5. Domestic Industrial Growth: <\/strong>Expanding manufacturing can strengthen domestic supply chains<\/strong>, encourage innovation and create opportunities for Indian industries.<\/li>\n
        6. Energy Democracy: <\/strong>Decentralised renewable energy enables households, farmers and local enterprises to participate in energy generation<\/strong>, broadening access beyond centralised power systems.<\/li>\n
        7. Global Solar Momentum: <\/strong>The cited comparison notes that the first 1,000 GW<\/strong> of global solar capacity took about 25 years, while the next 1,000 GW was added in roughly two years<\/strong>, illustrating the acceleration of solar deployment worldwide.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Key Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n
            \n
          1. Intermittency: <\/strong>Solar and wind generation depend on weather conditions and time of day, complicating the maintenance of a reliable electricity supply.<\/li>\n
          2. Energy Storage: <\/strong>India requires substantial battery storage and other flexible resources. The cited requirement is approximately 236 GWh<\/strong> of battery storage by 2031\u201332<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
          3. Grid Infrastructure: Transmission constraints<\/strong>, grid congestion and limited flexibility can restrict renewable integration and contribute to power curtailment.<\/li>\n
          4. Financing Constraints: <\/strong>High capital requirements, financing costs<\/strong> and project-execution risks can slow renewable energy expansion.<\/li>\n
          5. Manufacturing Dependence: <\/strong>Gaps across the solar value chain and reliance on imported inputs<\/strong> can create supply-chain vulnerabilities despite rising domestic capacity.<\/li>\n
          6. Land and Environmental Concerns: <\/strong>Large projects and transmission lines may create competing demands over land, local livelihoods and ecological protection<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
          7. Transition and Reliability: Renewable capacity growth alone<\/strong> does not establish that fossil-fuel dependence has declined. India must balance rising electricity demand, energy security and decarbonisation while ensuring reliable supply.<\/li>\n
          8. Skills and Implementation: Shortages of trained workers<\/strong>, uneven implementation capacity and maintenance challenges can affect project delivery and long-term performance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n
              \n
            1. Meet the 2030 Target: <\/strong>Work towards India\u2019s target of 500 GW<\/strong> of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030<\/strong> through sustained investment and timely project execution.<\/li>\n
            2. Strengthen Energy Storage: <\/strong>Accelerate battery storage<\/strong> and pumped-storage hydropower<\/strong>, alongside other suitable options, to balance renewable generation and improve grid flexibility.<\/li>\n
            3. Modernise the Electricity Grid: <\/strong>Expand transmission networks, improve interstate power transfer and adopt smart-grid technologies<\/strong>, forecasting and demand-side management.<\/li>\n
            4. Promote Distributed Solar: <\/strong>Expand rooftop solar, agricultural solarisation and decentralised renewable systems<\/strong>, particularly in rural and underserved areas.<\/li>\n
            5. Strengthen Domestic Manufacturing: <\/strong>Promote research, innovation and investment across the solar value chain<\/strong>, including cells, modules, storage technologies and essential components.<\/li>\n
            6. Improve Financing: Mobilise private investment<\/strong>, develop suitable financing instruments and strengthen the financial viability of renewable energy projects.<\/li>\n
            7. Promote Agricultural Photovoltaics: <\/strong>Explore proposals<\/strong> such as PM-KUSUM 2.0 and agrivoltaics to combine solar generation with agriculture, subject to suitable policy design and implementation.<\/li>\n
            8. Support MSMEs: <\/strong>Promote energy audits, technical assistance and clean-energy adoption among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)<\/strong>, beginning with suitable industrial clusters.<\/li>\n
            9. Develop a Skilled Workforce: <\/strong>Expand technical training<\/strong>, certification and industry partnerships for installation, operation, maintenance and manufacturing.<\/li>\n
            10. Advance Green Hydrogen: <\/strong>Support electrolyser manufacturing<\/strong>, research and infrastructure while ensuring access to affordable renewable electricity.<\/li>\n
            11. Improve Thermal Power Efficiency: <\/strong>Explore Advanced Ultra Supercritical (AUSC)<\/strong> technology to improve coal-based generation efficiency during the transition, while recognising that efficiency improvements do not replace renewable energy expansion.<\/li>\n
            12. Strengthen Carbon-Market Mechanisms: <\/strong>Develop credible carbon-market mechanisms<\/strong> that encourage emissions reductions and support cost-effective decarbonisation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

              India<\/strong>\u2019<\/strong>s renewable energy transition <\/strong>can strengthen energy security, support employment and advance sustainable development. Meeting the 2030 target will require investment, storage, modern grids, domestic manufacturing and skilled workers. Coordinated action by governments, industry and international partners can help build a reliable, affordable and inclusive clean energy system.<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Question for practice:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              Examine the role of renewable energy initiatives in promoting India’s clean energy transition.<\/p>\n

              Source: <\/strong>The Hindu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 3- Infrastructure Introduction India\u2019s renewable energy transition is reshaping its energy system as electricity demand rises and climate commitments grow. Solar capacity has expanded rapidly, costs have fallen, and government support, private investment and technological progress have accelerated adoption. Beyond adding clean power, this shift is promoting decentralised generation, domestic manufacturing,… Continue reading An energy revolution in the making<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10320,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230],"tags":[216,299,10498],"class_list":["post-374897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","tag-gs-paper-3","tag-infrastructure","tag-the-hindu","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10320"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=374897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/374897\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=374897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=374897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=374897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}