Policy Decisions and the Russia-Ukraine War Impede India's Move to Clean Energy

- Possibility of fixing new targets at the global conference on climate change in November

On the one hand, most countries of the world, including India, are talking about moving towards clean energy, on the other hand, the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, in addition to hostile policies at home, has made the world's efforts to avoid climate change a challenge. While the 27th session of the Conference of Parties associated with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is meeting in Egypt from November 6, in addition to the Paris Agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that fifty percent of the country's total electricity production will be from renewable sources by 2030. However, at the time of this claim, world leaders including India had no idea of ​​war.

After the assurance given to the world, India has made progress in increasing solar and wind energy production capacity, but the country's capital Delhi and other cities in North India are world class in terms of climate. Cities like Delhi and Kolkata topped the latest Global Air Reports list on air quality. In 2016, another report reported that as many as 16 lakh people died due to air pollution in India. After China and America, India ranks second in pollution.

The situation caused by the Russia-Ukraine war has pushed countries back to polluting fuels like coal. While it is still uncertain when the war will end, it would not be surprising if the Egyptian meeting had to restructure the target for clean energy. Many countries of the world have to depend on some countries including China for the necessary equipment for renewable energy production. Lack of adequate supply of equipment is making it difficult to increase the installed capacity of renewable energy. India has a target of reaching 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Increasing the share of renewables in total power generation to 50 percent by 2030 does not seem easy.

Ahead of the Egypt meeting in November after the Glasgow Climate Conference, India is seen to be moving very slowly towards its renewables targets. India is currently adding 15 GW as against an average annual addition of 30 GW in solar power generation capacity. Excluding hydro, the share of wind and solar power generation in the country's total power generation in August was only 13 percent. 70 percent of the power generation was from thermal power with coal-fired facilities. Coal-based power generation has a major role in spreading pollution in the country.

The biggest problem in preventing the spread of pollution in the country lies in the lack of clear guidelines from the Government of India and lack of cooperation between the central and state governments. Self-reliant India policy also appears to be a hindrance to clean energy targets. Home-grown goods are being further encouraged in Atmanirbhar Bharat policy. For this incentive, high import duty is imposed on goods imported from abroad. Components used in the production of electric vehicles and renewable energy are mostly imported. Heavy import duty on such parts can be a hindrance to increasing production of electric vehicles and renewable energy in the country. As per capita energy consumption in India continues to increase, increasing power generation has become necessary.

While India has a target of reducing coal-based power generation and increasing renewable power generation like wind and solar energy, the country's energy minister recently indicated that there is a plan to increase coal-based power generation by 25 percent by 2030. Power Minister Raj Kumar Singh said in an interview that 56 GW of coal-fired power capacity will be added, apart from the cost of maintaining renewable energy. The effect of the war may have caused him this sign.

Despite the assurances given by many countries of the world, including China and India, to become pollution free, the reduction in coal consumption is not seen as it should be. Thus, there is a wide gap between what countries talk about reducing pollution and what they do. Now is the time for policymakers to reframe energy policy to shift from coal-based power generation to renewable energy.

Considering the pressure to maintain energy security for economic development, the demand for coal-fired power cannot decrease in the near future. If the target announced by the Glasgow Climate Conference is to be met, new coal-fired power plants will have to be phased out entirely and replaced with increased renewable energy capacity. However, looking at the way India's power demand is increasing, even the government cannot clearly say how useful this math can be. As the country moves towards renewable energy at a slow pace, there is no doubt that coal-fired power generation will continue for a long time or will be forced to continue.