India's Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable energy resources are critical to achieving India's goal of carbon neutrality by 2070. Investing in renewable energy will help India mitigate the impacts of climate change and will also provide numerous economic, social, and environmental benefits.

India has a diverse portfolio of renewable energy resources, like solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydro, tidal etc. So which is the best option for India's energy needs? The answer to this question is that there is no single "best" option for India's energy needs, as each renewable energy source has advantages and, at the same time, some limitations too. 

This blog will discuss which renewable energy source is best for India and where it has high energy potential. 

Solar Energy

As the Tropic of Cancer passes through the centre of India, it has abundant solar resources. As per the National Institute of Solar Energy's assessment, 3% of the wasteland area of the country has a solar potential of about 748 GW. That is why solar energy has taken a central place in India's National Action Plan on Climate Change, with the National Solar Mission as one of the crucial missions.

But there are some challenges with India's solar mission. One of the biggest challenges for large-scale solar projects is land acquisition. Around 5 acres of land are required for setting up a 1 MW solar power plant. As a densely populated and land scares country, large-scale power plant either has to shift to forest land or acquire agricultural land.

The high upfront capital costs (Installation cost) are a barrier to investment, particularly for smaller developers. Despite falling solar tariffs, financing remains a significant challenge for many solar projects, particularly those in rural areas (FAQ.pdf (seci.co.in)).

Wind Energy

India is the fourth-largest wind energy producer in the world, with a current installed capacity of over 38 GW. The government has set a target of achieving 60 GW of wind capacity by 2022.

One of the biggest challenges with wind energy is the accurate assessment of wind resources. But in India, wind resource data is often scarce or unreliable, particularly in remote or hilly areas, which is the main problem when installing wind turbines.

The high upfront capital costs are a challenge for many developers. It costs approximately five crores per MW. Also, maintaining that is costly.

The wind energy sector is constantly evolving, and there is a need for continued research and development of new technologies and innovations to improve the efficiency and reliability of wind power systems.

In the next blog, we will discuss biogas and other non-renewable resources.