India - Goal of 1,00,000 MW capacity from renewable sources by 2050

Power cuts are a way of life in India, at least in parts of the country lucky enough to regard them as an interruption rather than the norm. There is a worsening shortage. Over the past decade, electricity generation has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.5%, but demand has grown even faster. Peak demand exceeded supply by 12.1% in the last financial year. India has an institutional capacity of 130,000 megawatts, which includes thermal, hydro, nuclear and renewable energy sources. India is talking about adding 500,000 to 600,000 megawatts in the next 20 years.

The Indian Ministry of Power says the country faces an average energy shortage of about 8 percent and a peak shortage of about 12 percent -- reflected in power cuts nationwide. The Indian capital itself faces a shortage of 100 megawatts. The Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam recently stated that India would have to step up its power generating capacities to 400,000 MW by 2030, more than three times the present capacity of 130,000 MW. This can be achieved through three different sources - including hydel capacity, nuclear power and non-conventional energy sources primarily through solar energy, he said. The hydel capacity generated through inter-linking of rivers is expected to contribute additional 50,000 megawatts of power. Large scale solar energy farms of 100's of megawatts capacity in certain number could contribute around 55,000 MW. The nuclear power plants should have a target of 50,000 MW of power. The balance has to be generated through the conventional thermal plants through coal and gas and other renewable sources of energy such as Wind power, Biomass, power through municipal waste and solar thermal power.

The Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNCES) is working out a comprehensive renewable energy policy, which envisages that at the current rate of capacity addition from renewable energy sources, around 20 percent of the capacity to be added during the 10-year period spanning the Tenth and Eleventh Plan through renewables. The Ministry, in fact, hopes to add around 1,00,000 MW capacity from renewable sources by 2050. Currently, 7,200 MW of installed capacity of power generation from renewable sources constitutes 6 per cent of the entire power generating installed capacity in the country. The Ministry's activities cover all major renewable energy sources such as biogas, biomass, solar energy, wind energy, small hydropower and the other emerging technologies.

Incidentally, MNCES is planning to change its name, replacing the word non-conventional with 'renewable.' The ministry has started internal dialogue for the proposed change in name. "Presently, the matter is only at the discussion stage and nothing has been finalized," MNCES Secretary V Subramanian said. India is emerging as a major wind energy player, having recorded the fastest growth rate in installed wind energy capacity during the last three years after China. In 2005, India displaced Denmark as the fourth largest wind energy generating nation in terms of installed capacity at 4,253 MW and clocked an average growth rate of 35.7 per cent during the past three years, the highest after China's 38.8 per cent. The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) is of the view that India continues to be the leader among Asian countries in the area of generating wind power. India now ranks fourth in the world in wind power, both in terms of overall capacity (4,430 MW) and additions (1,430 MW).

'India's wind power generation is much more than its nuclear capacity', V Subramanian, Secretary, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources said. According to him, India produces about 5300 MW (mega watts) of energy through wind power, out of which 3300 mw is supplied by the state of Tamilnadu. 'While Germany, US and Spain are leading in wind power generation, India is fast developing in this sector and is expected to get the third place by next year', Subramanian added. "Nuclear fuel is just a fashionable term," V Subramanian, Secretary, Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources said. India was the fourth largest country in wind power generation in the world, behind Germany, US and Spain, he said. He expressed hope that India would jump to the third place next year. "Last year we had set a target of adding 1,000 MW. We crossed the target," he said. While the gross wind energy potential in India has been estimated at 45,000 MW, the technical potential is limited to about 13,000 MW. According to energy sector experts, wind is one of the largest renewable energy sources in the country, with the fastest growth prospects as well.