INTERVIEW WITH ...
“ Historically , women have not been drawn into areas of sustainability and renewable energy , which has its roots in traditionally male-dominated sectors ”
Q . WHAT ’ S THE CURRENT ENERGY LANDSCAPE IN INDIA IN TERMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY ?
» India , as the fastest-growing major economy , is making significant strides in the renewable energy space . Currently , India is ranked fourth in the world for installed capacity of renewable energy ( including large hydro ), amounting to 179.322 gigawatts . In 2022 , we witnessed the highest year-on-year growth in renewable energy additions of 9.83 %. The Indian government is also actively promoting the addition of a substantial amount of renewable energy capacity in the coming years , with the aim of installing 500 GW of renewable energy capacity , requiring India to add about 50 to 60 GW every year until 2030 . This target positions India to become one of the world ’ s leading renewable energy economies .
However , there is a common misconception that India ’ s growth has been driven by coal . Over the last decade , India ’ s renewable energy function has been on a highly accelerated trajectory , which has been driven largely by our country ’ s leadership and supported by a thriving private sector of which ReNew is a part – and often a pioneer .
It was recently reported that India ’ s greenhouse gas emissions rate dropped 33 % over 14 years , largely thanks to the exponential growth of the renewables sector in the country . Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set forth an ambitious objective for 2030 , and in addition to the 500 GW of renewable energy capacity , India is also looking at a 45 % reduction in the emissions intensity of the economy .
Q . HOW IS THE COUNTRY AND ITS ORGANISATIONS RESPONDING TO THE DEMAND FOR RENEWABLE TRANSITION ?
» India ’ s response to the demand for the renewable transition is multifaceted , involving a combination of a positive policy environment , private sector investment , technological innovation , and international collaboration .
India is experiencing a swifter expansion of renewable energy compared to many other major economies , with new capacity additions expected to double by 2026 . On top of that , India ’ s shift towards clean energy is already well underway . The country has surpassed its commitment made at COP21 in Paris by achieving 40 % of its power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources , nearly nine years ahead of schedule .
India has been responding to the demand for the renewables transition in several ways . Constructing solar power plants has become more cost-effective than that
16 December 2023