India misses renewable energy: parliamentary panel

General Studies Paper 3

Context: 

A parliamentary panel has attributed the low installation of solar roof-top and wind energy projects as key reasons for the shortfall in achieving India’s renewable energy (RE)  capacity target of 175 GW by 2022.

Background:

• India set an ambitious target (in 2014) of installing 175 GW of RE capacity by the year 2022, which included 100 GW (solar), 60 GW (wind), 10 GW (bio-power), and 5 GW (small hydropower).
• While India has enhanced its promises to RE in the “Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Plan” presented at the UNFCCC COP27, it appears that the nation will fall short of one of its initial pledges in the RE sector.

Findings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy:

• A RE capacity of 90 GW (69% of the overall target)has been installed in the country as of December 31, 2022.
• This is a commendable achievement, as the RE installed capacity has increased by more than 236% since 2014.
• Whatever shortfall has occurred in achieving the target is because of the low installation of solar roof-tops and wind energy projects.
  • Against 40 GW, only 7.40 GW of rooftop solar projects could be installed in the country.
  • Against 60 GW, the cumulative installed capacity of wind power is 41.93 GW.

Issues responsible for deficient performance under the solar rooftop programme:

• Non-availability of information at the grass root level,
• Lack of awareness about this scheme amongst the masses,
• The apathy of discoms, etc.

Recommendations:

• Keeping in view India’s commitment to increase its non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) must ramp up its pace for the timely achievement of targets.
• A strict timeline should be imposed for approvals/rejection of applications, installation of net-metre, an inspection of the system, etc., by the discoms.
  • As of Feb 2023, out of 43,171 applications received on the National Portal, 18437 – were approved by DISCOMs, 3031 – were rejected on technical grounds and the rest are pending.
• Discoms may be incentivised to allay their concerns about losing their high-paying customers as a result of the installation of solar rooftops.
• The MNRE should increase its fund absorption capacity and focus on exhaustive utilization of the budgetary allocation.
  • In the Union Budget 2023-24, Rs 10,222 crore has been allocated to MNRE with an increase of 45% against the Revised Estimates of 2022.

Government Initiatives

• Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana:
  • Punjab has introduced a scheme by way of which farmers were refunded money if they consumed less electricity.
    • Under Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana of Ministry of Power, separate components of agriculture and non-agriculture feeders have been created for facilitating judicious rostering of supply to agriculture & non-agriculture consumers in rural areas.
  • National Water Policy, 2012
    • It has laid emphasis on the periodic assessment of groundwater resources on a scientific basis.
  • Atal Bhujal Yojana: 
    • The focus of the scheme is on community participation and demand side intervention for sustainable groundwater management in identified water stressed areas.
  • Jal Jeevan Mission:
    • Provisions have been made for source recharging like dedicated bore well recharge structures, rain water recharge, rejuvenation of existing water bodies, etc.
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: 
    • It aims to enhance physical access of water on farm and for expanding the cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introducing sustainable water conservation practices, etc.
  • Per Drop More Crop: 
    • It mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through micro irrigation (drip and sprinkler irrigation system).
  • Rejuvenation of Dry Ponds, puddles and wells:
    • Water being a State subject, it is for the State Governments to take up rejuvenation of water bodies like formulation of action plan for rejuvenation of dry ponds, puddles and wells in their jurisdiction.
  • National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM):
    • It is being implemented by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) as part of Ground Water Management and Regulation (GWM&R) Scheme, a central sector scheme.

Suggestions & way ahead

• Monitoring:
  • The exploitation and sale of groundwater by large corporations should be monitored on a continuous basis.
• Rainwater harvesting:
  • Both Central and State governments must take continuous steps to store rainwater in all possible ways to increase recharge.
  • Rainwater harvesting system must be made mandatory in every household, particularly in big cities where groundwater has been declining alarmingly.
• MSP fixing considering groundwater resource:
  • Considering the groundwater balance, MSPs for crops should be fixed according to the consumption of water; higher prices for crops that require less water and vice-versa.
• Micro-irrigation:
  • Micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler), which can save about 50 percent of water in the cultivation of different crops, should be promoted in the over-exploited blocks to reduce the exploitation of groundwater.
• Awareness:
  • People from all walks of life must continue to be made aware of water literacy and on the hazardous effects of rapidly declining groundwater.