UPSC Mains Daily Questions » Daily Answer Writing Challenge-3rd August

Daily Answer Writing Challenge-3rd August

Q1. Discuss the significance of renewable energy resources in ensuring environmental sustainability, with a focus on India. (250 words, 15 Marks) 

Answer: 

Renewable energy (RE) sources are resources that can be used to generate energy repeatedly, such  as solar energy and wind energy. India has assumed global leadership in the renewable energy  sector. Renewable sources accounted for 38 per cent of India’s installed energy generation capacity  and 27 per cent of all electricity generated in the country as of 2021. 

Significance of renewable energy resources in sustainable development: 

  • Sustainable development: Rising energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have  been strongly connected to economic development. Renewable energy can help to promote  sustainable development by lowering energy imports. 
  • Benefit poor: Furthermore, renewable energy provides the chance to enhance access to modern  energy services for the poorest segments of society, which is critical for meeting the SDGs.
  • Energy access: Many places in India still lack access to power. Furthermore, most rural regions lack 24-hour electricity. Because weather disturbances in one site cannot be replicated in  other locations, dispersed solar and wind plants can result in minimal electricity generation  interruption. 
  • Climate change mitigation: When opposed to fossil fuels, renewable energy technologies  provide significant advantages, particularly in terms of GHG emissions. Renewable energy is a  clean form of energy, meaning it emits little or no carbon or greenhouse gases. 
  • Employment: The development of renewable energy sources leads to the establishment of new  job possibilities and actively promotes structural economic transformation. Solar and wind  energy have the potential to create millions of jobs. 
  • Reduce pollution: RE power generation technologies have the potential to considerably reduce  local and regional air pollution and associated health implications. 

India’s efforts towards renewable energy: 

  • Ministry of New and Renewable Energy: India is the world’s first country to establish a ministry  of non-conventional energy resources (currently the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)  (MNRE). 
  • Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC): India committed to an INDC target of  generating 40% of total power generation from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 in the Paris  Agreement.  
  • Central Electricity Authority’s strategy blueprint: In the Central Electricity Authority’s strategy  framework, the country aims for an ambitious target of 57 % of total electricity capacity from  renewable sources by 2027. India wants to have 275 GW of renewable energy by 2027, according  to the 2027 blueprint. 
  • Commission for Additional Sources of Energy: In the Department of Science and Technology,  the Government of India established the Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE).  CASE’s mission is to promote research and development in the field of renewable energy. 
  • Solar mini-grids project: Union Minister for New and Renewable Electricity inaugurated the solar  mini-grids project to bring renewable energy to remote areas. The Solar Mini Grids initiative  aims to use available solutions to enable universal energy access by 2025 while also lowering  electricity costs and tariffs. 

Way forward: 

  • Infrastructure: To accommodate expanding renewable energy, transmission infrastructure,  both intra- and inter-state, needs are expanded. 
  • Domestic content requirement: It should be carefully evaluated to ensure that the criterion for  domestic content does not stifle the growth of solar capacity. 
  • R&D: In addition to local content criteria, investment in R&D programmes and human resource  development is required. 
  • Institutional strengthening: Improve the institutional structure to allow for the efficient flow  of central financial aid. It is also critical to establish institutional structures in order to monitor  the implementation of government policies and programmes. 
  • Capacity building: The government must also ensure that India’s distribution businesses can  continue to buy renewable energy, especially if bid prices level off or climb. 

Renewable energy technologies are still in their infancy on the market. They still lack the necessary  efficiency. India must strengthen regional frameworks so that states can effectively promote the  use of renewable energy.