Wind Power: India's Path to Energy Independence

India needs to add enormously to its wind energy capacity if it is to meet future energy supply requirements, a report from global think tank Ember has stated. The report titled "Redirecting Wind Energy in India" says that the country needs to treble its wind energy generation to reach the targets set out for it in its National Electricity Plan, NEP14. For example, to add an additional 75 GW by FY 2032, with a focus on wind power, that will mainly support India's clean energy transition. Thermal power plants meet 80% of India's non-solar energy requirement and renewable energy including wind and solar accounts for 19% during the daytime supply. As the world becomes more alert to the dangers of climate change and issues of energy security, the priorities for India would lie in the diversification of the energy mix and reducing reliance on the sources of fossil fuel. The potential contribution of wind energy in this context, particularly during non-solar hours, is largely contributory to the degree possible with the use of solar energy and has become an imperative for the country as a whole. Wind Energy as a Key Player in India's Energy Transition According to the report, India now boasts 21 states that have set aggressive targets to sign for more than 100 GW of wind capacity by 2030 under the country's RPO. The deals should give rise to a more sustainable energy supply and reduce the dependence of the country on coal and other non-renewable energy sources. Scaling up wind energy is in line with the effort by India to meet its clean energy targets under various international agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord. According to the report, wind power could take a greater role in reducing emissions and supporting India's goal of achieving 50% of its energy needs through non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. Economic and Environmental Benefits of Wind Energy The report apart from vindicating increases in energy demands, enhances economic benefits of expanding wind energy. It says thousands of green jobs can be created as India will be able to become a global major in the wind energy market. The country is already exporting components related to wind energy to markets such as Australia, Brazil, Europe, and the United States. There are about 17 domestic manufacturing firms that produce turbines and blades among other important parts to fuel this emerging sector. About 25,500 people are employed in India's wind energy sector, as estimated by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, according to a March 2021 report. The figure is to jump six-fold by 2030 with additional growth spurts for India's green economy and its shift to clean energy. Apart from creating jobs, the capacity expansion of wind power will be directed to reduce the dependency of India on its predominantly thermal-based non-solar needs. Early morning and nighttime hours that wind power can produce form the perfect complement to the day-based production of solar energy. By using the energy of the sun and wind, India will be actually decreasing its reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. This will help in cutting carbon emissions and also assist the nation to meet its climate goals. Missed Targets And Future Goals: The report also shed light into how India is doing, or rather not doing so well, in meeting up to its wind energy targets. India had earlier set a target of going to 60 GW of wind capacity by the year 2022, but the target has not met up, with capacity now way below expectations. It goes ahead to indicate that if this target had come to be, then the demand for energy will have increased by 14.5%, after which the burden at the thermal plants starts to reduce. Looking ahead, it would depend on the achievement of the NEP14 target of 122 GW installed wind energy capacity by 2032 for India's long-term energy security. Huge investment, support from policies, and infrastructure developments especially in the wind-rich states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra would make it possible to be achieved. Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and Wind Energy This policy mechanism makes it incumbent on the electricity distribution companies to provide a percentage of the power distributed from them as being sourced from renewable sources. The new trajectory of RPO, which has been introduced for the first time in 2022, identifies a part of the quantum as being specifically allocated to wind energy. It starts off at 0.67 per cent for the wind RPO and increases steadily to 3.48 per cent by 2030. The policy is apt to be a catalyst for growth in wind energy in India, with the states and utilities seeking to fulfill their renewable energy obligations. All of this will contribute toward reducing India's reliance on fossil fuels and creating an environment that is conducive to rapid growth in its renewable energy sector, helping India achieve its broader climate and energy security objectives. Challenges and the Path Forward The scope for wind energy in India is huge, but several challenges stand in the way of this potential being translated into actual output. Regulatory issues, land acquisition woes, and improved infrastructure to integrate more renewable energy into the national grid stand among those challenges. The report recommends that India face these challenges head-on by creating friendly policy frames for doing businesses across counties, smoothing out the regulatory processes, and investing in grid modernization. Additionally, it will require efforts for public-private partnerships and more international collaboration to mobilize available resources to scale up the installed capacity of wind energy. Conclusion The core of India's effort in a clean energy future is nothing but the ambition to scale up wind and other renewable energy sources. Although the country has been able to make impressive progress in the recent past, much more needs to be done to meet its ambitious clean energy targets. According to the report "Redirecting Wind Energy in India," the wind energy potential assumes to play a pivotal role in addressing the energy requirement and related issues of jobs creation and reduction of carbon footprint in India. Strong policy support, high investment, and cooperation through international cooperation can make India a world leader in wind energy for a more sustainable and secure energy future. Source: Ember's "Redirecting Wind Energy in India" Report