US-China Relations: A New Path Ahead

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As the global community steers toward a sustainable future, making significant strides in the energy transition, a recent analysis has emphasized India’s need to ramp up its solar power capacity by at least 36 percent annually over the next five years to achieve its energy mix objectives.

According to a report by the UK-based energy think tank Ember, India, the second-largest economy in Asia, must upgrade its solar power plants to effectively manage the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources.

The report also underscores the necessity for improved storage solutions to tackle the variable supply of sources like solar and wind, which are crucial for the successful realization of India’s renewable energy targets.

On a positive note, the analysis highlights the commendable progress made by India in the implementation of renewable energy projects within the country. The report cites an increase in investments in the renewable sector and the record amount of solar capacity commissioned in 2023 as promising signs of advancement.

Additionally, the recently introduced National Electricity Plan in India has been acknowledged as a crucial starting point that will contribute to the nation’s attainment of its renewable energy goals in the forthcoming years.

Despite the near-term reliance on coal-generated power, the report forecasts a significant surge in the share of renewables in India’s energy mix. While solar power accounted for merely five percent of India’s total electricity generation in 2022, the implementation of the National Electricity Plan projects is expected to elevate this figure to 25 percent by 2032.

India has already committed to achieving a target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Furthermore, the country aims to produce five million tonnes of green hydrogen by the end of the decade, with a more ambitious goal of 25 million tons annually by 2047.

The extensive expansion of green hydrogen production in India is designed to curtail energy imports and reduce the economy’s dependence on fossil fuels, aligning with the country’s efforts to meet its climate objectives, as highlighted in the report.