What’s driving India’s electricity demand?
Rapid economic growth and urbanization are increasing electricity consumption.
Climate change-induced heat stress, with hotter summers, is a major factor.
Household electricity demand is growing the fastest, driven by increased air conditioner sales.
Peak electricity demand is exceeding projections, with extended heatwaves expected.
Industries, households, and agriculture are the main sectors consuming electricity.
How has India met rising demand so far?
India has significantly increased its power generation capacity, becoming the third-largest producer globally.
There is a shift towards renewable energy (RE) technologies like solar and wind.
The government has set ambitious RE capacity targets for 2030.
Short-term measures, like increased coal allocation and transportation, have been used to manage demand spikes.
Record additions of RE capacity have increased its share in the electricity mix.
Coal still provides the majority of the electricity demand.
Why should India further raise its clean energy ambitions?
Achieving higher RE capacity targets is crucial to avoid power shortages and higher costs.
Increased RE capacity is needed to meet growing demand, even with moderate growth projections.
Adding more RE is a better option than relying on additional coal capacity, which can lead to increased downtime and costs.
Increased RE capacity will have health and job benefits.
How can India aim for 600 GW by 2030?
Achieving 600 GW of clean energy will ensure reliable power at lower costs and reduce emissions.
This target requires a significant increase in annual RE capacity additions.
Challenges include land acquisition, transmission equipment delays, and grid balancing complexities.
RE projects can be deployed faster than coal projects, making them a more viable option.
How can India add renewables faster?
New RE projects should be distributed across more Indian States.
Co-location of wind and energy storage systems with solar projects should be promoted.
Innovation in bidding and contract designs is needed to increase RE procurement and availability.
Increase the use of Battery energy storage systems.
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