India’s Clean Energy Targets Need Higher Climate Ambition

India Must Set Higher Ambitions For Clean Energy Targets

Source: Indian Express
GS III: Environment and Conservation

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Why in the News?

The Hindu highlights the need for India to adopt more ambitious clean energy targets, focusing on absolute emission reductions, renewable energy expansion and stronger power infrastructure to achieve climate targets.

News in Brief

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• India achieved its earlier targets of 40% non-fossil fuel-based installed electricity capacity and 33–35% reduction in GDP emissions intensity ahead of the 2030 deadline.
• Under its new climate commitments, India aims to achieve 60% non-fossil fuel-based capacity and reduce emissions intensity by 47% by 2035.
• Despite rising renewable energy capacity, coal continues to dominate actual electricity generation, revealing a gap between installed capacity and energy produced.
• The experts call for absolute emission reduction targets, greater renewable electricity generation and stronger power transmission infrastructure.

India’s climate commitments and their limitations

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• Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, India made the following commitments for 2030;
  • Non-fossil energy capacity: Achieve 40% of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
  • Emissions intensity: Reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33–35% from 2005 levels.
• India achieved both targets ahead of schedule.
• However, India should move beyond these relatively modest commitments and adopt more ambitious targets aligned with the 1.5 degree Celsius temperature goal.

India’s newer commitments for 2035;

• Increase non-fossil fuel-based installed electricity capacity to 60%.
• Reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 47% from 2005 levels.

The concern is that these may not ensure an actual decline in India’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Emissions Intensity vs Absolute Emissions

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• One of major concerns is India’s continued reliance on emissions intensity targets.
  • Emissions intensity: Measures greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP.
  • Absolute emissions: Measures the total volume of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.
• For example, if India’s economy doubles in size while emissions intensity falls by 40%, its total emissions could still increase by 20%.
• Therefore, reducing emissions intensity does not necessarily mean reducing overall emissions.
• Experts recommends that;
  • Identify the year in which power-sector emissions will peak.
  • Establish an absolute emissions reduction target.
  • Move towards a clear emissions ceiling rather than relying only on emissions intensity.

Continued dependence on Coal

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• Despite progress in renewable energy, coal remains central to India’s electricity sector.
• India plans to increase its coal-based power capacity by 46% by 2035.
• Coal generated more than two-thirds of India’s electricity in the previous year, according to the article.
• Clean energy sources supplied only around 29% of actual electricity generation, despite accounting for more than 50% of installed capacity.
• This highlights the difference between renewable energy capacity and actual electricity generation.

Why is this a concern?

• Coal-based power contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Continued dependence on coal increases India’s vulnerability to fossil fuel price fluctuations.
• It creates challenges for achieving long-term climate commitments.
• Disruptions to crude oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz following the Iran conflict highlight India’s vulnerability to external energy supply shocks.
• Coal cannot directly replace petroleum products used in transport and cooking.
• Therefore, reducing oil and gas dependence requires wider electrification and cleaner electricity generation.

Renewable Energy as an Economically viable alternative

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• Solar energy is increasingly becoming a cost-effective source of electricity.
• Round-the-clock clean electricity is available at around rupees 5.25 per unit, compared to rupees 5.38-6.30 per unit for coal-based power contracts signed in 2025.
• Renewable energy, combined with storage and balancing technologies, can therefore offer an economically viable alternative to fossil fuels.
• It can reduce dependence on imported fuels, strengthen energy security, support climate commitments and minimize exposure to global fuel price fluctuations.

Lessons from Chile’s Renewable Energy Transition

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• Chile offers an example of ambitious renewable energy planning.
• It set a target of sourcing 20% of electricity generation from new renewable energy sources by 2025 and achieved it six years ahead of schedule.
• Subsequently, it raised its target to 70% renewable electricity generation by 2030.
• This demonstrates how measurable targets and consistent implementation can accelerate India’s clean energy transition.

Strengthening Electricity Transmission Infrastructure

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• India’s renewable energy challenge is no longer limited to generating clean electricity.
• It also involves transmitting and distributing it efficiently.
• Major concerns include;
  • Renewable energy generation is concentrated in regions with high solar and wind potential, while electricity demand is distributed across the country.
  • Inadequate transmission infrastructure prevents surplus renewable electricity from reaching consumption centres.
  • Grid congestion forces power producers to curtail renewable electricity generation.
  • Over the past five years, India built only around 80% of its planned transmission capacity.
• In a single day in March, transmission constraints resulted in the loss of enough renewable electricity to supply five million urban households.
• Therefore, investment in transmission infrastructure is essential to maximize the benefits of renewable energy expansion.

Major Challenges in India’s Clean Energy Transition

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• Coal dependence: Continued expansion of coal-based power capacity makes the transition towards a low-carbon economy difficult.
• Weak climate ambition: Existing targets focus heavily on emissions intensity rather than absolute emission reductions.
• Grid infrastructure gaps: Inadequate transmission capacity leads to renewable energy curtailment and inefficient utilization.
• Intermittency of renewable energy: Solar and wind generation depend on weather conditions, requiring energy storage and flexible power systems.
• Energy security concerns: Dependence on imported fossil fuels exposes India to geopolitical conflicts and international price fluctuations.
• Capacity-generation gap: A higher share of renewable energy in installed capacity does not automatically translate into a similar share in actual electricity generation.

Way Forward and Conclusion

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India should set absolute emission reduction targets, accelerate renewable energy adoption and reduce coal dependence. Strengthening transmission networks, expanding energy storage and modernizing electricity grids are essential for reliable clean power supply. Promoting electrification and consistent climate policies can further reduce fossil fuel dependence.

India must move beyond renewable capacity expansion towards actual emission reduction. Affordable clean energy and stronger power infrastructure are crucial to achieving its net-zero target while meeting development needs.

 

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