Focus

Sustainable Energy Outlook for India

 As the country goes to general elections and the issue of “bijli” amongst others continues to be of high priority for the aam admi. No wonder, in a bid to woo the voters many political parties have gone on record to promise free power in many states.  
Greenpeace releases the second version of the 'Energy Revolution: A sustainable India Energy Outlook' and calls for political will to back solutions for India's energy that is secure, technically feasible and sustainable in a climate challenged world.
 
The report shows how ambitions of economic growth and development can be met while curbing India's carbon emissions. The report states that 35% of the country's electricity demands can be met from renewable energy by 2030 and 50% of the projected energy requirements can be met simply from smart and efficient generation, distribution and use of energy. 
 
“Unlike other energy scenarios that promote energy futures at the cost of the climate, our energy revolution scenario shows how to save money and maintain global economic development without fuelling catastrophic climate change. All we need to kick start this plan is bold energy policy from India's leaders” said Sven Teske, Greenpeace International's Renewable Energy Expert and lead-author of the report, addressing the media, academicians and planners at a seminar recently. “There is a huge opportunity in going green now given the fact that India is still developing its energy infrastructure and has the human and intellectual capital to be world leaders on this front” he added.
 
Captains of the Renewable Energy Industry present on the occasion including K. Subramanya CEO, Tata BP Solar (India's largest producer of Solar PV's), V. Subramanian, CEO of Indian Wind Energy Association (former Secretary, MNRE) and Dr. Debashish Majumdar, Director, IREDA endorsed the Greenpeace Energy Revolution Report and highlighted the economic sense in India's going green.
 
Providing a global perspective, Oliver Schäfer, Policy Director-EREC (European Renewable Energy Council) said, “The global market for renewable energy can grow at double digit rates until 2050, and overtake the size of today's fossil fuel industry. Currently, the renewable energy market is worth USD 70 billion and doubling in size every three years. Because of economy of scales, renewable energies such as wind power at good sites are already competitive with conventional power. From around 2015 onwards, we are confident that renewable energies across all sectors will be the most cost effective energy capacities. 
 
The renewable industry is ready and able to deliver the needed capacity to make the 
energy revolution a reality. There is no technical impediment but a political barrier to rebuild the global energy sector,” he added in unison with the corporate heads from India's Renewable Industry sector present on the occasion.
 
Srinivas Krishnaswamy, Political and Business Advisor, Greenpeace India said, “In the context of today 's economic instability, investing in renewable energy technologies is a 'win-win' scenario: a win for energy security, a win for the economy and a win for the climate. Renewable energy sources have the potential to produce electricity without any further fuel costs beyond 2030, creating an enormous number of jobs and helping lift the whole world out of recession. It can also provide immediate and reliable energy for the 600 million plus Indians who have no access to electricity today.”
 
“Climate science today tells us that the threat of global warming is more dire than earlier predicted. We are the last generation that has a chance to avert climate catastrophe. We need an energy revolution and we need it now”, said Srinivas summing up the discussion.