The indian energy and emission outlook: A case for solar energy

In line with India’s aims to get Viksit Bharat status by the year 2047, India has to grow much faster than it has so far. Such a high rate of growth will invariably lead to more energy consumption & more emissions, necessitating large scale renewable energy interventions. In spite of multifarious policy interventions and technological/financial improvements in renewable energy front over the last 2 decades, fossil fuel still dominates the energy scene, resulting in an ever-increasing trend of emissions worldwide. In India, though at a per capita level, emissions are very low, at a gross level, the emissions are growing at a little uncomfortable pace. The third world’s argument for the right to emit more was accepted at the worldwide multi-lateral level, leading to the carbon-market mechanisms enshrined under the ‘Kyoto Protocol’. However, after the end of the ‘Kyoto Protocol’ commitment period (2008-2012), the focus has shifted to ‘overall emissions’, where India is as big a responsible State as the likes of USA. Therefore, the shift to renewables for India has been of as paramount importance as any other developed or developing nation. Amongst the modern renewable energy options, the scope & scale of energy from wind/geothermal/small hydro/biomass/etc. sources appear limited due to their inherent drawbacks viz. higher upfront costs, high-maintenance, modularity & scalability. In contrast, solar energy has multifarious advantages viz. anywhere-installation-option, modularity & scalability, off-grid-option, etc. Moreover, solar-at-scale can help create an ecosystem for manufacturing & job creation and also help India move towards its Net Zero target.