What percent of India energy is renewable and how does the solar system affect climate change?
It's important to note that while solar energy contributes to climate change mitigation, its effectiveness depends on factors such as the scale of deployment, the energy mix it replaces, and the environmental considerations associated with solar panel manufacturing and disposal. Additionally, solar power generation can be intermittent (depending on weather and daylight conditions), necessitating energy storage solutions for reliable and continuous power supply.
To get the most up-to-date information on India's renewable energy share and its impact on climate change, consult recent reports and data from Indian government agencies, international organizations, and environmental research institutions.
Renewable energy accounted for only 12.3% of total energy. India's total renewable energy capacity, excluding large hydro and nuclear plants, reached 122 gigawatts in February 2023. A growth to 50% renewable in another ten years, therefore, requires the country's energy transformation to pick up a lot of speed. In 2020, India used 77% fossil fuels for its electricity generation, of which 72.5% came from coal, 4.2% came from natural gas and 0.3% came from oil. India receives nearly 4 per cent of the global precipitation and ranks 133 in the world in terms of water availability per person per annum. The total renewable water resources of India are estimated at 1,897 sq km per annum. Solar PV installations will continue to break new records, with annual additions forecast to reach over 160 GW by 2022. That would be almost 50% higher than the level achieved in 2019 prior to the pandemic, affirming solar's position as the “new king” of global electricity markets. China is now the undisputable global leader of renewable energy expansion worldwide, and the IEA forecasts that by 2021, more than one-third of global cumulative solar PV and onshore wind capacity will be located in China.The country boasts one of the largest manufacturing ecosystems for wind energy and is experiencing rapid growth in solar capacity, propelling India to be the global leader in renewable energy. India has set the target of having 500GW of renewable energy by 2030. Coal-based power generation, however, ensures stable operation of the electricity transmission grid. As a renewable source of power, solar energy has an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, which is critical to protecting humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. Solar energy can also improve air quality and reduce water use from energy production. Generating electricity from solar panels produce no greenhouse gases whatsoever, and so can help to reduce the effect of climate change if used widely. With solar energy powering a home or business, there is no burning of fuel and no emissions from energy production. Some types of PV cell technologies use heavy metals, and these types of cells and PV panels may require special handling when they reach the end of their useful life. Some solar thermal systems use potentially hazardous fluids to transfer heat, and leaks of these materials could be harmful to the environment. Solar power produces no emissions during generation itself, and life-cycle assessments clearly demonstrate that it has a smaller carbon footprint from "cradle-to-grave" than fossil fuels.During combustion, fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases; carbon dioxide is the major harmful gas emitted. Greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming which result in climatic change. If more people convert to solar energy use, we can conserve the environment because fewer gases are released.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering