Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural processes or from processes that are continuously generated in nature. E.g. The sun is constantly shining and the wind is blowing. In March, 1981, a Commission on Additional and Renewable Energy Sources was established in the Department of Science and Technology. This commission was entrusted with the task of formulating necessary policies and implementing those policies. In 1982, a new department, the Department of Non-Systemic Energy Sources (DNES), was formed. In the year 1992, this ‘DNES’ was renamed as ‘Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, MNRE’. The objective of this ‘MNRE’ ministry is to ensure energy security, increase the share of clean power and ensure that energy is available to the people at an affordable price. Now that we have options to get electricity from solar energy and wind energy, these renewable energy sources will continue to be important energy sources.
What is India’s target for renewable energy?
• Regarding renewable energy, India has set a target of getting 40 percent of the country’s electricity needs from renewable energy sources by the year 2030. India receives about 300 days of sunshine throughout the year. and has high hydroelectric potential, about which exploration research is being carried out in the states of North-East India. In terms of the world, India ranks fourth in terms of generating electricity from wind power and third in terms of generating electricity from concentrated solar power.
• India’s target is to have 2 lakh 25 thousand MW capacity from renewable energy by 2020, which is far ahead of the target set in the Paris Climate Agreement.
• The generation capacity of small hydro power plants in India is 21134 MW. According to the information of 31st October 2019, the contribution of electricity obtained with the help of wind energy is 45.5 percent in the total electricity obtained in India, while the electricity obtained with the help of solar energy, which also includes electricity based on concentrated solar energy on the roofs of houses, is 36 percent.
India has favorable conditions for obtaining electricity with the help of solar energy
Solar energy based sponsorships have met people’s cooking, home lighting and other needs in rural areas in an environment friendly manner. India has an excellent opportunity to generate electricity through solar energy on a large scale. As of 31st July, 2018, India’s installed solar power generation capacity was 23,000 MW, while another 21,000 MW of solar power generation is in progress.
India overtakes Italy to become fourth in solar power deployment
In this direction ‘National Solar Mission’ (NSM) is a big initiative with active participation of Indian states. The mission was launched on January 11, 2010. It is hoped that this electrical energy obtained with the help of solar energy will be a good solution to solve the challenges facing the average global climate today.
The objective of ‘National Solar Mission’ is to establish India as a leader in global perspective in obtaining electrical energy through solar energy. The target of this ‘solar mission’ is to have 100000 MW of grid connected power by 2022. India has now overtaken Italy to rank fourth in the world in terms of commissioning solar power plants.
Which solar power parks are currently operational in India?
• Presently ‘NTPC’ Limited has commissioned ‘Solar Photo Voltaic’ Project in Visakhapatnam. It is a project providing 25 MW power from solar energy on the reservoir of Seemadri Thermal Station.
• A solar energy power plant is going to be set up at Ramagundam in Telangana. The capacity of this plant will be 100 MW power.
• Pavagarha Solar Energy Park in Karnataka was inaugurated in March, 2019. It has an electrical power capacity of 2000 MW. However, the 5000 MW power plant to be set up in Ladakh region will surpass the Pawagadha solar power plant in terms of electrical power capacity.
• The US has recently approved the ‘Crimson Power Project’ worth US$ 550 million. This project will provide electricity to 85000 households. The project is to be established on 2000 acres of land in the California desert. The project is 13 miles from Plyd.
• The world’s largest solar power park ‘Shakit Sthala’ has been established in March, 2018 in Karnataka. The investment behind it is 16500 crore rupees (255 crore US dollars).
• According to current news, ‘NTPC’ will set up a solar energy park in the desert of Kutch, Gujarat. It will have a capacity of 4750 MW of electrical power.