Renewable Energy — Solar Energy in India Introduction Solar energy is one of the most abundant and cleanest renewable energy sources available globally. india, located in the tropical belt, receives over 300 sunny days annually, giving it immense potential to harness solar power to meet its growing energy needs sustainably. 3 Importance of Solar Energy in India + Energy security: Reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels. + Environmental sustainability: Mitigates greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. + Rural development: Provides decentralized energy solutions in remote and off-grid areas. + Employment generation: Creates jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and R&D. + Affordable energy access: Declining costs make solar one of the cheapest sources of electricity. + India’s Solar Potential and Current Status + Potential: Over 750 GW, according to MNRE estimates. + Installed capacity: Around 73 GW (as of early 2024), making India the Sth largest solar power producer globally. + Targets: * 100 GW solar capacity under National Solar Mission (by 2022; later extended). * 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 (as announced at COP26) Government Policies and Initiatives National Solar Mission (2010) + Part of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). + Aim: Promote solar power generation and establish India as a global leader. ¥ Solar Park Scheme + Developing large-scale solar parks with plug-and-play infrastructure to attract private investment. 4 Grid-connected rooftop solar program + Target: 40 GW rooftop solar by 2022; further continued under various state policies. i Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) * Promote solar pumps and grid-connected renewable energy for farmers. © Viability Gap Funding (VGF) + Financial support to bridge gaps in large solar projects’ economics. @ International Solar Alliance (ISA) + India-led global coalition to promote solar deployment in tropical countries. . Challenges in Solar Energy Development §j Land acquisition and usage + Large utility-scale projects require significant land, leading to conflicts with agriculture and local communities © Intermittency and storage + Solar power generation is weather-dependent and requires robust storage or gridbalancing solutions. © Financial viability . Delays in subsidy disbursements and DISCOM payment defaults strain project economics. ‘@: Supply chain dependence . Heavy reliance on imported solar modules and cells, especially from China. ® Skilled manpower + Shortage of trained workforce for installation and maintenance in rural and remote areas. of Recent Trends + Rapid fall in solar tariffs (record low bids below 22 per unit), making it cost- competitive. * Emergence of hybrid solar-wind projects to improve grid stability. * Growth of floating solar projects on reservoirs to address land constraints (e.g., projects in Kerala and Telangana). * Increasing focus on solar manufacturing under Atmanirbhar Bharat, supported by Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes. + Widespread adoption of rooftop solar in commercial and residential sectors. Positives of Solar Energy Push * Significant reduction in carbon footprint. + Strengthened decentralized energy systems, improving rural livelihoods. + Attraction of FDI and global technology partnerships. * Strengthened India's leadership in global climate governance. A, Negatives / Limitations . Intermittency and grid integration issues. * Environmental concerns (e.g., land use, panel disposal). + Financial health of DISCOMs affecting timely payments to solar developers. @ Way Forward + Encourage domestic manufacturing of solar modules and cells under PLI schemes. to reduce import dependence. . Develop advanced storage solutions and smart grids for better integration. * Promote agro-photovoltaics to reduce land use conflicts (co-locating solar with agriculture). + Strengthen policy support and ensure timely subsidy disbursement to improve investor confidence. * Focus on innovation and R&D for efficiency improvements and lifecycle sustainability. Conclusion ‘As PM Modi stated, “The sun provides us with an endless source of energy. We must harness it to power a cleaner and brighter future for India.” Solar energy stands at the core of India's vision for a sustainable, self-reliant, and inclusive energy future, supporting both developmental and environmental goals. yy Key Takeaways * — Solar energy is central to India’s clean energy transition. + Government initiatives include National Solar Mission, Solar Parks, KUSUM, androoftop programs. + Major challenges: land, intermittency, financial viability, import dependence. * Recent trends: falling tariffs, floating solar, hybrid projects, domestic manufacturing push. + Way forward: strengthen R&D, grid integration, domestic supply chains, and inclusive adoption. Here's a comprehensive, UPSC-ready note on Renewable Energy — Wind Energy in India, covering data, benefits, and disadvantages. You can directly use this for your notes or answers. Renewable Energy — Wind Energy in India Introduction Wind energy is one of the most mature and widely used renewable energy sources globally. India has a long coastline and vast onshore wind potential, making it well-suited to harness wind power as part of its green energy transition. (ul Data and Current Status + Installed capacity: Around 45 GW (as of early 2024), making India the fourthargest wind energy producer in the world after China, the USA, and Germany. * Global ranking: 4th in installed wind power capacity. + Key states: Tamil Nadu (~9.8 GW), Gujarat (~9 GW), Maharashtra (~5 GW), Karnataka (~4.8 GW), Rajasthan (~4.3 GW). + Offshore wind potential: Estimated at ~70 GW (yet to be fully tapped, early pilot projects underway). Advantages / Benefits of Wind Energy ef Environmental benefits + Zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation. . No air pollutants, helping improve local air quality. ¥ Energy security and diversification * Reduces dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy. + Complements solar power generation (wind often blows at night or during monsoon when solar output is lower). © Economic and employment benefits . Creates jobs in manufacturing, installation, operation, and maintenance. + Boosts local economies in rural and coastal areas. \y Scalable and modular * Can be installed in small clusters or large wind farms depending on land availability and grid capacity. @ Land co-usage possible + Land beneath turbines can still be used for agriculture or grazing, supporting rural livelihoods. A, Disadvantages / Challenges of Wind Energy «) Intermittency and variability * Dependent on wind availability; generation is not uniform throughout the year, requiring grid balancing or storage solutions.4 Land and social issues . Large-scale projects may face land acquisition challenges and community resistance. Noise and aesthetic concerns * Turbine noise and visual impact can be an issue for nearby settlements. 4 \mpact on biodiversity . Potential hazards to birds and bats; can disrupt local wildlife habitats. {@ Grid integration + Remote wind-rich sites often lack adequate grid infrastructure, requiring heavy investments in transmission lines. © High initial investment + Although operational costs are low, upfront capital investment remains high. eZ Recent Developments + Push for offshore wind farms: First offshore wind tenders expected off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts. * Hybrid renewable parks (wind-solar-battery) being promoted for better utilization and grid stability. + Falling costs: Wind power tariffs have become more competitive (around %2.8-%3.0 per unit in recent bids). Conclusion Wind energy is a critical pillar of India’s renewable energy strategy, helping achieve its targets under the Paris Agreement, COP26 commitments, and the goal of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. While it offers significant environmental and economic benefits, addressing integration, land, and ecological challenges will be vital for its sustainable expansion. yy Key Takeaways * India is 4th globally in wind capacity (~45 GW). + Advantages: Clean, renewable, job-creating, supports rural development, complements solar. . Disadvantages: Intermittent, land and wildlife issues, high initial costs, grid challenges. + Future focus: offshore wind, hybrid parks, grid modernization. 4 Renewable Energy — Biofuel in India Introduction Biofuels are renewable fuels derived from biological sources such as agricultural residues, crops, animal waste, and algae. They offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving farmer incomes, and enhancing energy security. (ul Data and Current Status * Biofuel potential: India has an estimated potential of producing over 5 billion liters of ethanol annually from sugarcane, damaged grains, maize, etc. + Ethanol blending: As of 2023-24, India achieved around 12% ethanol blending in petrol, targeting 20% by 2025 under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program.+ Biodiesel blending: Currently around 0.2%, target set at 5% by 2030. + Key policy: National Policy on Biofuels (2018), revised in 2022, allows use of more feedstocks and advances blending timelines. Advantages / Benefits of Biofuels ef Environmental benefits . Lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels. . Reduction in air pollutants (e.g., S02, CO, unburned hydrocarbons). Boosts farmer income * Provides a market for surplus and non-food crops, damaged grains, and agricultural residues. + Supports rural economy and diversification of farm income. == Energy security * Reduces dependence on imported crude oil, saving valuable foreign exchange. @ Waste utilization . Promotes circular economy by utilizing agro-waste and industrial by-products. ‘y Compatibility * Can be blended with existing fuels without major engine modifications, making it easier to adopt. A, Disadvantages / Challenges of Biofuels 4f Food vs fuel debate * Large-scale diversion of food grains or land for biofuel crops can threaten food security and push up prices. © High water footprint * Crops like sugarcane require significant water, stressing already scarce water resources. Economic viability High production costs and fluctuations in raw material supply impact commercial sustainability. 4 Technological and infrastructure constraints * Limited facilities for large-scale production, storage, and distribution. * Second- and third-generation biofuel technologies (using algae, lignocellulosic biomass) still at pilot or early stages. Emission trade-offs + While biofuels reduce CO2, some feedstocks and production methods can increase other emissions (e.g., NOx). of Recent Trends + Advancements in 2G (second-generation) ethanol plants, using crop residues (e.g., stubble), reducing burning. * Increased focus on non-food feedstocks (e.g., bamboo, algae, used cooking oil) to minimize food security conflicts. . Financial incentives under SATAT scheme (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) for promoting compressed biogas (CBG). . Blending mandates being enforced strictly by OMCs (Oil Marketing Companies). Conclusion Biofuels are an important pillar of India's strategy to achieve net zero by 2070, enhanceenergy independence, and promote sustainable agriculture. However, to ensure long-term success, India needs to balance food security, environmental sustainability, and economic feasibility. yy Key Takeaways + India’s ethanol blending achieved ~12% in 2023-24; target is 20% by 2025. + Advantages: Emission reduction, rural income boost, energy security, waste utilization. . Challenges: Food vs fuel conflict, water stress, economic viability, tech gaps. + Future focus: Non-food feedstocks, 2G biofuels, circular economy approaches.