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Table 1 Demand–supply gaps for electricity in India
Period ENERGY (BU) Shortage (%) PEAK (MW) Demand Met Shortage (%)
Requirement Availability Demand 69 189 9 252 (11.8)
78 441 86 818 13 897 (13.8)
2001–02 (end of the Ninth Plan) 522.54 483.35 35.19 (7.5) 100 715 116 191 13 815 (10.6)
130 006 123.29 12.16 (9.0)
2006–07 (end of the Tenth Plan) 690.59 624.50 66.09 (9.6) 135.45 129 269 6 292 (4.6)
135 561
20011–12 (end of the Eleventh Plan) 937. 20 857.89 79.31 (8.5)
2012–13 (April–September) 499.73 457.32 42.41 (8.5)
2013–14 (April–September) 512.14 487.72 24.42 (4.8)
Source: Adapted from ‘Annual Report 2013–14’, Power and Energy Division, Planning Commission, Government of India, 2014.
India has been dependent on fossil towards reducing carbon emissions. On in the country’s total installed power
fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas for its an average, every 1 GW of additional generation capacity. Figure 1 illustrates
energy requirements. It is evident by renewable energy capacity reduces the energy mix of India for the year 2015.
the fact that coal accounts for almost CO2 emissions by 3.3 million tonnes
55% of the country’s total energy a year. Investing in renewable energy As per MNRE, India is the fourth
supplies, and about 75% of the coal in would enable India to develop globally largest country with regard to installed
the country is consumed in the power competitive industries and technologies power generation capacity in the field of
sector. At the same time, continuation that can provide new opportunities for renewable energy. Wind, hydro, biomass,
of the use of fossil fuels is set to face growth and leadership. and solar are the main renewable energy
multiple challenges, such as depletion sources in India.The country has an
of fossil fuel reserves, global warming Diversification of fuel sources is estimated renewable energy potential of
and other environmental concerns, imperative to address energy security, around 147 615 MW from commercially
continued and significant fuel price climate change, and sustainable exploitable sources, which includes
rise, and so on. Given this scenario, it development issues. Furthermore, 102 772 MW from wind, 84 044 MW from
is of paramount importance that the too much reliance on non-renewable hydro, and 18 000 MW from biomass/
country develops all possible domestic sources to generate power is also bioenergy. In addition, India has the
energy sources.Therefore, renewable unviable in the long run.Thus, it is potential to generate 35 MW/km2
energy is the solution to these growing essential to address the energy crisis using solar photovoltaic and solar
energy challenges as they are abundant, through extensive utilization of the thermal energy.Table 2 summarizes the
inexhaustible, and environmentally abundant renewable energy resources, potential and installation base of various
friendly.The key drivers for renewable such as biomass energy, solar energy, renewable energy sources in India from
energy are factors such as the existing wind energy, geothermal energy, etc. 2012 to 2016.
demand–supply gap, a large untapped
potential, concern for the environment, Status and Potential It is evident from Table 2 that all
the need to strengthen India’s energy of Renewable Energy renewable energy sources have huge
security, and viable solution for rural Sources in India untapped potential. Moreover, with
electrification. Accelerating the use the increased targets for renewable
of renewable energy is also crucial As per the Ministry of New and energy by the government (175 GW to
for India to meet its commitments Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India, be achieved by 2022), it has become
renewable energy has a share of 13% imperative to tap these resources to
their entirety.
Table 2 Potential and installation base of renewable sources of energy in India
AS PER MNRE, INDIA IS THE
Renewable Potential (MW) Installation Base (MW) FOURTH LARGEST COUNTRY
Source of Energy WITH REGARD TO INSTALLED
2012 2014 2016 POWER GENERATION
8 505.00 CAPACITY IN THE FIELD OF
Solar energy 748 980.00 1 282.00 2 390.00 26 769.00 RENEWABLE ENERGY. WIND,
45 000.00 HYDRO, BIOMASS, AND SOLAR
Wind energy 102 772.00 18 420.40 21 996.78 4 831.33 ARE THE MAIN RENEWABLE
ENERGY SOURCES IN INDIA.
Hydro power 84 044.00 34 640.00 38 690.00
Biomass 18 000.00 4 067.87 4 781.21
Source: Adapted from various MNRE sources: Retrieved from http://mnre.gov.in/mission-and-vision-2/achievements/; http://mnre.
gov.in/schemes/grid-connected/biomass-powercogen/; http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/akshay-urja/march-april-2016/EN/52.pdf;
http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/akshay-urja/november-december-2014/EN/52.pdf; http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/akshay-urja/
november-december-2012/EN/52.pdf
january–march 2017 14 energy future
Period ENERGY (BU) Shortage (%) PEAK (MW) Demand Met Shortage (%)
Requirement Availability Demand 69 189 9 252 (11.8)
78 441 86 818 13 897 (13.8)
2001–02 (end of the Ninth Plan) 522.54 483.35 35.19 (7.5) 100 715 116 191 13 815 (10.6)
130 006 123.29 12.16 (9.0)
2006–07 (end of the Tenth Plan) 690.59 624.50 66.09 (9.6) 135.45 129 269 6 292 (4.6)
135 561
20011–12 (end of the Eleventh Plan) 937. 20 857.89 79.31 (8.5)
2012–13 (April–September) 499.73 457.32 42.41 (8.5)
2013–14 (April–September) 512.14 487.72 24.42 (4.8)
Source: Adapted from ‘Annual Report 2013–14’, Power and Energy Division, Planning Commission, Government of India, 2014.
India has been dependent on fossil towards reducing carbon emissions. On in the country’s total installed power
fuels, such as coal, oil, and gas for its an average, every 1 GW of additional generation capacity. Figure 1 illustrates
energy requirements. It is evident by renewable energy capacity reduces the energy mix of India for the year 2015.
the fact that coal accounts for almost CO2 emissions by 3.3 million tonnes
55% of the country’s total energy a year. Investing in renewable energy As per MNRE, India is the fourth
supplies, and about 75% of the coal in would enable India to develop globally largest country with regard to installed
the country is consumed in the power competitive industries and technologies power generation capacity in the field of
sector. At the same time, continuation that can provide new opportunities for renewable energy. Wind, hydro, biomass,
of the use of fossil fuels is set to face growth and leadership. and solar are the main renewable energy
multiple challenges, such as depletion sources in India.The country has an
of fossil fuel reserves, global warming Diversification of fuel sources is estimated renewable energy potential of
and other environmental concerns, imperative to address energy security, around 147 615 MW from commercially
continued and significant fuel price climate change, and sustainable exploitable sources, which includes
rise, and so on. Given this scenario, it development issues. Furthermore, 102 772 MW from wind, 84 044 MW from
is of paramount importance that the too much reliance on non-renewable hydro, and 18 000 MW from biomass/
country develops all possible domestic sources to generate power is also bioenergy. In addition, India has the
energy sources.Therefore, renewable unviable in the long run.Thus, it is potential to generate 35 MW/km2
energy is the solution to these growing essential to address the energy crisis using solar photovoltaic and solar
energy challenges as they are abundant, through extensive utilization of the thermal energy.Table 2 summarizes the
inexhaustible, and environmentally abundant renewable energy resources, potential and installation base of various
friendly.The key drivers for renewable such as biomass energy, solar energy, renewable energy sources in India from
energy are factors such as the existing wind energy, geothermal energy, etc. 2012 to 2016.
demand–supply gap, a large untapped
potential, concern for the environment, Status and Potential It is evident from Table 2 that all
the need to strengthen India’s energy of Renewable Energy renewable energy sources have huge
security, and viable solution for rural Sources in India untapped potential. Moreover, with
electrification. Accelerating the use the increased targets for renewable
of renewable energy is also crucial As per the Ministry of New and energy by the government (175 GW to
for India to meet its commitments Renewable Energy (MNRE) in India, be achieved by 2022), it has become
renewable energy has a share of 13% imperative to tap these resources to
their entirety.
Table 2 Potential and installation base of renewable sources of energy in India
AS PER MNRE, INDIA IS THE
Renewable Potential (MW) Installation Base (MW) FOURTH LARGEST COUNTRY
Source of Energy WITH REGARD TO INSTALLED
2012 2014 2016 POWER GENERATION
8 505.00 CAPACITY IN THE FIELD OF
Solar energy 748 980.00 1 282.00 2 390.00 26 769.00 RENEWABLE ENERGY. WIND,
45 000.00 HYDRO, BIOMASS, AND SOLAR
Wind energy 102 772.00 18 420.40 21 996.78 4 831.33 ARE THE MAIN RENEWABLE
ENERGY SOURCES IN INDIA.
Hydro power 84 044.00 34 640.00 38 690.00
Biomass 18 000.00 4 067.87 4 781.21
Source: Adapted from various MNRE sources: Retrieved from http://mnre.gov.in/mission-and-vision-2/achievements/; http://mnre.
gov.in/schemes/grid-connected/biomass-powercogen/; http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/akshay-urja/march-april-2016/EN/52.pdf;
http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/akshay-urja/november-december-2014/EN/52.pdf; http://mnre.gov.in/file-manager/akshay-urja/
november-december-2012/EN/52.pdf
january–march 2017 14 energy future
