As the 2030 deadline to transition to 500-GW non-fossil power looms massive, the Union Power Ministry on Monday asserted that the nation was on path to realize the objective, however requires investments with the transmission works for the photo voltaic initiatives alone anticipated to value Rs 2.5 lakh crore.

During the COP26 meet in November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced that India can have non-fossil electrical energy era of 500 GW capability by 2030.

With the current put in capability of renewable power estimated at 160 GW, India has an extended technique to go to realize the goal.

Replying to questions from mediapersons, Power Ministry secretary Alok Kumar mentioned India has achieved comparable targets earlier.

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“In the 2015 Paris meet, we had pledged to achieve 40% of the power generation (installed capacity) by non-fossil fuels by 2030. We achieved it in 2022 itself. Similarly, we also pledged that we will reduce our emissions by 33% as compared to 2005 levels by 2030. We are already close to 30%,” he mentioned.

He mentioned the federal government has now set the next objective, but it surely requires funding.

“We are aiming to achieve 42% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. If you talk of solar, we have about 61 GW at present and we are expecting close to 300 GW of installed capacity. The 500 GW transmission plan will require new investment
of Rs 2.5 lakh crore for transmission alone. We estimate that 1 MW solar energy will require Rs 4 crore,” he mentioned, including that the nation would require $10 billion by 2070 to realize web zero.

To questions over evaluation of the menace posed to the surroundings by the small hydro initiatives within the wake of the Joshimath incident, he mentioned such initiatives want surroundings clearance.

“Most of the renewable energy in India will come from solar and wind. Small hydro projects have to get clearance from the environment ministry,” he mentioned, including {that a} group within the Ministry of Home Affairs was trying into the Joshimath incident comprehensively and can give you a conclusion.