GROWTH OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN INDIA

Dr. N.M Jothi Swaroopan /Professor/EEE/RMK Engineering College, Chennai

ABSTRACT:
Renewable energy in India comes under the purview of the Ministry of New and
Renewable Energy (MNRE). Newer renewable electricity sources are targeted to grow
massively by 2022, including a more than doubling of India's large wind power capacity.
India was the first country in the world to set up a ministry of non-conventional
energy resources, in early 1980s. As of September 30, 2016 India's cumulative grid
interactive or grid tied renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro) reached about
44.24 GW 61% of the renewable power came from wind, while solar contributed nearly 19%.
Large hydro installed capacity was 43.11 GW as of September 30, 2016 and is administered
separately by the Ministry of Power and not included in MNRE targets. From 2015 onwards
the MNRE began laying down actionable plans for the renewable energy sector under its
ambit to make a quantum jump, building on strong foundations already established in the
country. MNRE renewable electricity targets have been upscale to grow from just under 43
GW in April 2016 to 175 GW by the year 2022, including 100 GW from solar power, 60 GW
from wind power, 10 GW from bio power and 5 GW from small hydro power. The ambitious
targets would see India quickly becoming one of the leading green energy producers in the
world and surpassing numerous developed countries. The government intends to achieve 40%
cumulative electric power capacity from non fossil fuel sources by 2030. The electricity
sector in India is going through a period of significant growth and change. Among other
aspects, the government is focussed on providing universal access and 24X7 supply. The
primary fuel sector has been revamped with the auction of coal mines; energy efficiency in
sectors across lighting to transport is being addressed; and a major attempt at transforming
the energy mix—with a goal of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022—is under way.
Economic and sustainable development is necessary for any nation and energy is the major
sources of it. Developing countries like India where most of the energy is supplied by the
coal or other conventional sources is suffered by environment population and there is a worry
about depletion of its conventional sources. In this we have only renewable energy option to
fulfil the gap between demand and supply.
 1. INTRODUCTION
The expanded fossil fuel use in the previous quite a few years has raised worries about the
exhaustion of fossil assets in future. This has additionally raised genuine ecological concerns
prompting environmental change issues. Environment change impacts are expected to affect
agriculture thus exposing food security, increasing natural disasters, species extinction,
spread of vector-borne infections, rise in sea-level and accelerating erosion of coastal zones.
The 2015 Paris climate conference is form to achieve a legally required agreement on climate
change for the first time in over 20 years; India has taken a deliberate commitment of
decreasing emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent from 2005 level by 2030. But For
India, high import requirement (oil and increasingly coal), large peak power and power
deficits, and high energy show serious challenges related to climate change, energy scarcity,
and energy security. To overcome these challenges, India has set extremely ambitious
renewable energy targets. The previous couple of decades have demonstrated a quickened
worldwide exertion in the improvement of renewable Energy sources and the related
innovations that serve them as Energy is currently perceived as a key division. Government
of India has adopted new controls and strategies empowering the occupation of renewable
Energy innovations. These efforts include advancing renewable energy technologies,
improving the efficiency of energy use, and establishing energy conservation plans alongside
their related legislative activities. India has set very huge renewable energy targets. As stated
in the National Action Plan for Climate Change, set up renewable energy is a strategic
priority for India. Under India's most recent budget, Union Budget 2015–2016, India aim to
install 100 GW of solar energy capacity and 60 GW of wind energy capacity by 2022. The
previously targets under the 12th Five Year Plan (2012–2017) intends to install an additional
20 GW of solar and 30 GW of wind capacity by 2022
Electricity production has crossed a landmark with 1,048 TWh (2014-15)—with a growth
of 5.9% over the last decade (2005-15). India is now the third largest electricity producer in
the world, just surpassing Japan and Russia. The generation capacity of 267 GW, which has
grown at a rapid 11% in the last five years, makes India the fourth largest electricity market
in the world. Furthermore, growing urbanisation, universal access, and government push for
infrastructure development and local manufacturing is expected to generate significant new
demand for electricity. Power deficits have been significantly but not entirely overcome. In
the past year, India suffered an energy and peak deficit of 3.6% and 4.7% respectively, down
from 8.7% and 9% two years back. The industry expects deficits to recur as growth picks up
and rural areas are connected. For these reasons, capacity addition remains a priority for the
government. The National Electricity Plan 2012 targets a new capacity build of 80 GW for
2012-2017, of which 61 GW (72%) has been achieved.

The private sector has been at the forefront of this growth (21.7% growth over 2005-
15) and now owns 38% (104 GW) of all generation capacity. The private sector has also
invested in transmission (e.g. Adani, Sterlite, Reliance, L&T, KEC, Kalpataru, and Tata) and
distribution (e.g., Tata, Reliance, Torrent Power, Essel) businesses. However, there have been
fewer such opportunities so far. Although FDI continues to grow—from 157 million USD
(2007) to 657 million USD (2015)—it is far below potential. The electricity sector accounts
for a mere 4% of all FDI inflows but the renewable energy segment has been a league apart
with both strategic and financial investors looking to actively invest.

2. GROWTH OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR

Over the years, renewable energy sector in India has prominent as a significant player in the
grid connected power generation capacity. It supports the government program of continuous
growth, while, emerging as an important part of the solution to meet the nation’s energy
needs and a leading player for energy access. It has been recognised that renewable energy
has to play a very important role in manage energy security in the years ahead and be an
integral part of the energy planning process. There has been a noticeable effect of renewable
energy in the Indian energy scenario during the last five years. Renewable energy sector
outlook in India has, during the last few years, witnessed great changes in the policy
framework with enhanced and ambitious plans to increase the power from solar energy.
There is a perception that renewable energy can now play a significant role, as also, there is a
technologies and capacity to do so. Growing the extent of the Jawaharlal Nehru National
Solar Mission symbolizes both, and to be sure exemplifies the vision and desire for what's to
come. This changes is, may be, the highlight of the last five years of activities under the
Mission. The other powerful accomplishments are introduction of solar specific purchase
obligations; launching of improved cook-stoves initiatives; starting coordinated research and
development activities in solar thermal and PV; second generation bio fuels, hydrogen energy
and fuel cells etc. Renewable energy installed capacity growth day by day. Total installed
capacity of renewable energy is 10257 MW in 2007-08 and it is increased up to 38800 MW
in 2015- 16.presently total installed power capacity is 42849 MW as on 30th April 2016.
The renewable energy sector in India has made remarkable progress growing from 3.3%
(2002) of the total generation capacity to 13.4% (2015). Production rose from 0.4% to 5.6%
in this period. Of this, about two-third is from wind, and the balance is from small hydro,
solar, biomass and waste to energy, and other sources. The wind power sector has undergone
a major shift in India, from tax-credit driven investment to mainstream IPPs. This has led to
the setting up of large wind farms that deploy the latest technology and practices—larger
MW class wind turbines, inclusive O&M practices for plant life, use of logistics tools for
construction and maintenance, and seamless grid integration. Further, the industry has gained
from improvements in drive train technology, tower structure and use of advance power
electronics, which add to overall cost effectiveness. Turbine costs declined in late 1990s, but
have since risen. This is due to a variety of factors—greater turbine dimensions and higher
material costs. However, with design technology maturing and production stabilising, costs
have started to decline from 2010. Further gains are expected from the use of lightweight
materials such as carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, better aerodynamic profile, on-site
manufacturing, segmented blades, and variable diameter rotor can reduce costs and increase
the capacity factor. An US DOE study suggests that the adoption of advanced technology can
increase the energy output between 21 to 61% with smaller changes (-36% to 21%) in capital
cost.
3. CURRENT SENEARIO
Renewable energy increasing day by day as now 14% of total installed capacity
from renewable energy. Growth of renewable energy is increased in last few years. In India
most of the renewable power is achieved by the wind energy. Wind energy shares 8.8 % of
total installed power followed by solar energy. Most of the wind power coming from states
like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya
Pradesh etc. Solar energy shares 2.2% of total installed power. Most of the solar energy is
coming from states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Punjab, Tamil Nadu etc. Bio power shares 1.6 % of total installed power capacity. Most of
the bio power coming from states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh etc. Small hydro shares 1.4 % of total installed power capacity
 5. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
The Government of India has identified power sector as a key sector of focus so as to
promote sustained industrial growth. Some initiatives by the Government of India to boost
the Indian power sector:
 The Government of India plans to set up a US$ 400 million fund, sourced from The
World Bank, which would be used to protect renewable energy producers from payment
delays by power distribution firms, while at the same time protecting the distribution
firms from the shrinking market for conventional grid-connected power, caused by wider
adoption of roof-top solar power generation.
 The Ministry of Power plans to set up two funds of US$ 1 billion each, which would give
investment support for stressed power assets and renewable energy projects in the
country.
 The Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable
Energy and Mines, launched an online portal for star rating of mines, which will bring all
mines to adopt sustainable practices, and thereby ensure compliance of environmental
protection and social responsibility by the mining sector.
 The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which provides 30 per cent
subsidy to most solar powered items such as solar lamps and solar heating systems, has
further extended its subsidy scheme to solar-powered refrigeration units with a view to
boost the use of solar-powered cold storages.
 The Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable
Energy and Mines, inaugurated the Tarang (Transmission App for Real Time Monitoring
& Growth) mobile app and web portal for electronic bidding for transmission projects,
which is expected to enhance ease, accountability, transparency, and boost investor
confidence in power transmission sector.
 The Ministry of Shipping plans to install 160.64 MW of solar and wind based power
systems at all the major ports across the country by 2017, thereby promoting the use of
renewable energy sources and giving a fillip to government's Green Port Initiative.
 The Government of India and the Government of the United Kingdom have signed an
agreement to work together in the fields of Solar Energy and Nano Material Research,
which is expected to yield high quality and high impact research outputs having
industrial relevance, targeted towards addressing societal needs.
 The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is seeking to enhance India's crude oil
refining capacity through 2040 by setting up a high-level panel, which will work towards
aligning India's energy portfolio with changing trends and transition towards cleaner
sources of energy generation.
 The Government of India plans to start as many as 10,000 solar, wind and biomass power
projects in next five years, with an average capacity of 50 kilowatt per project, thereby
adding 500 megawatt to the total installed capacity.
 The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable
Energy outlined Government of India’s goal to provide electricity to every home in India
by 2020, while also focussing on ensuring the cost of power is affordable to everyone.
 Government of India has asked states to prepare action plans with year-wise targets to
introduce renewable energy technologies and install solar rooftop panels so that the states
complement government's works to achieve 175 GW of renewable power by 2022.
 The Government of India announced a massive renewable power production target of
175,000 MW by 2022; this comprises generation of 100,000 MW from solar power,
60,000 MW from wind energy, 10,000 MW from biomass, and 5,000 MW from small
hydro power projects.

6. THE ROAD AHEAD

The Indian power sector has an investment potential of Rs 15 trillion (US$ 223.67 billion)
in the next 4–5 years, thereby providing immense opportunities in power generation,
distribution, transmission, and equipment. The government’s immediate goal is to generate
two trillion units (kilowatt hours) of energy by 2019. This means doubling the current
production capacity to provide 24x7 electricity for residential, industrial, commercial and
agriculture use.
The Government of India is taking a number of steps and initiatives like 10-year tax
exemption for solar energy projects, etc., in order to achieve India's ambitious renewable
energy targets of adding 175 GW of renewable energy, including addition of 100 GW of solar
power, by the year 2022. The government has also sought to restart the stalled hydro power
projects and increase the wind energy production target to 60 GW by 2022 from the current
20 GW.
7. CONCLUSIONS
The boost of Indian Power sector is renewable energy. India’s energy
consumption has been increasing at a relatively fast rate due to economic development.
Climate change, emission of greenhouse gases and depletion of fossils fuel boost the
development and promotion of renewable energy in India. India has enough potential of
renewable energy but still there are various challenges. Today, 14% of total installed capacity
is shared by renewable energy. India has set very ambitious renewable energy targets. India
intends to install 100 GW of solar energy capacity and 60 GW of wind energy capacity by
2022.

REFERENCES:
 IJISET - International Journal of Innovative Science, Engineering & Technology,
Vol. 3 Issue 6, June 2016
 Mytrah Energy Limited, November 2016
 www.ibef.org