- The unabated usage of has created havoc around the world greatly affecting the environment has garnered enough attention over the last couple of decades. The resultant outcome in the form of erratic weather patterns that have spawned across the world needs no elucidation. Unpredictability defines the weather patterns now what with seasonal occurrences getting altered in the face of unbridled human exploitations over sensitive environmental concerns. Ironically, the most advanced countries who went about exploiting the fragile environment are now advocating for developing and poor countries to check the carbon emissions. None can avoid the consequences but can extend support to stop the degradation.
PC: EDF
- Fossil fuel burning has majorly contributed to the rising carbon emissions and as such, efforts at reducing the same with alternative sources of energy are par for the course initiative. Every responsible country is aiming to contribute to reducing carbon footprints. The Indian government too has initiated a slew of measures in this direction including emphasizing generating solar power, a clean source of energy. Mind you, the Indian subcontinent is blessed with an abundance of sunlight which should be put to good use in generating an adequate quantity of alternative energy. As a step in the right direction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Sunday declared Modhera, Gujarat, as India’s first 24×7 solar-powered village. An achievement indeed.
- This also proves that it’s an important marker in India’s ambitious renewable energy vision. The aim is to increase installed capacity by more than threefold to 500 Giga Watt by 2030. The commercial viability of solar power will have a say in realizing this goal. Presently, India’s electricity sector displays a dichotomy, representing the challenges facing the renewable sector. Note that thermal power contributed 75-76% of the power generated over the last three financial years. Its installed capacity, however, dipped from 62.3% to 59.6% over the same period. During the same phase, solar power installed capacity increased from 9.4% to 12.8% and among renewables, its share in a generation increased.
PC: Luke James
- Therefore, among available sources of renewable energy, it’s solar power that holds the brightest promise. Note that renewable energy consumption gets a big push from the Union Government in the form of legally binding purchases called renewable purchase obligations (RPO). However, a March 2021 parliamentary committee report showed that only 4 states met their entire RPO target in 2019-20, a poor record indeed. Moreover, the renewable space itself is set to get more competitive with the advent of green hydrogen. Thus, the renewable energy sector is set for a churn with a complex set of factors at play. However, laying further boost to solar power is imperative and hence, should not lose steam in the next few years. Over to the authorities.
