Centre sets renewable energy targets

The Union government has announced an increased renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2021-22, from 38 GW. Of this, 100 GW is planned from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from biomass and 5 GW from hydropower. If these targets are realised, renewable energy (RE) is expected to contribute about 20 per cent of electricity generation by 2021-22.

The targets have been revised because India wants to get more electricity from renewable energy, Dr Ashvini Kumar, Managing Director of Renewable Energy Corporation of India said.
Speaking at a stakeholders consultation workshop on renewable energy organised by CSTEP and NITI Aayog in the City on Tuesday, Kumar said that the target had been reset from 38 GW to 175 GW because the government was keen on increasing energy output from various forms of renewable energy to reduce the burden on hydro alone.

There is an increasing realisation that RE can be a major contributor in India’s future energy mix.

Given the volatility in international energy prices and India’s growing dependence on energy imports, RE has a vital role to play in India’s aspirations for energy security.

Further as RE can be deployed close to load centers and for decentralised power generation, it can help achieve the targets of 100 per cent electricity access and 24/7 electricity supply, Kumar said.

By 2030, India should be able to generate 40 per cent of its fuel from non-fossil fuel sources and adoption of this for domestic consumption will get a 15 per cent subsidy.
Anshu Bharadwaj, Executive Director of CSTEP said there should be a regulatory policy for solar.