Green Energy Initiatives in India: Transforming Towards Sustainability

India is actively pursuing various green initiatives to transform its energy sector and promote sustainability. Key projects include the Green Energy Corridor to integrate renewable energy, green building certifications like LEED and GRIHA, and policies such as the Renewable Purchase Obligation to increase renewable energy usage. These efforts are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmental sustainability.

India’s Green Initiatives: Transforming the Energy Sector for a Sustainable Future

Green Energy Corridor

• The Green Energy Corridor (GEC) in India is a significant initiative aimed at transforming the country’s energy infrastructure to better integrate renewable energy sources. 
• The following information gives a detailed outline of its phases, objectives, and significance:
• Objectives of the Green Energy Corridor
• • Evacuation of Renewable Energy: The primary objective is to facilitate the efficient evacuation of large-scale renewable energy, particularly from solar and wind sources, into the national grid.
  • Strengthening Grid Infrastructure: The project aims to enhance and expand the grid infrastructure to accommodate the integration of renewable energy.
  • Improving Grid Stability: Ensuring the stability of the grid is crucial, given the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources.

Green Buildings

• Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment. 
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) are two prominent green building certification systems that assess and certify buildings based on their environmental performance and sustainability.  

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

• Origin and Development: LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization committed to sustainable building practices. 
• Assessment Criteria: The LEED certification system evaluates buildings on a range of criteria that include energy efficiency, water usage, indoor air quality, and the use of sustainable building materials. 
• Certification Levels: Buildings seeking LEED certification can achieve different levels of recognition based on their performance across various sustainability metrics. 
  • These levels are LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
• Global Applicability: LEED’s framework is applied worldwide, transcending geographical boundaries to provide guidelines for creating healthy, efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. 
  • Its global applicability has made it a benchmark for best practices in sustainable building and construction, influencing projects around the world.

GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment)

• Origin and Development: GRIHA was conceptualised and developed by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), a leading research institute in India focused on sustainable development. 
• Assessment Criteria: The GRIHA system assesses buildings based on a comprehensive set of parameters that include sustainable site planning, building design optimisation, reduced energy consumption, efficient water usage, sustainable material usage, waste management, and improved indoor air quality. 
  • These criteria are designed to ensure that buildings are environmentally sustainable throughout their life cycle.

Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)

Background: The concept of RPO was introduced in India as part of the Electricity Act of 2003 and the National Tariff Policy of 2006. 

• However, it gained significant momentum with the launch of the National Action Plan on Climate Change in 2008.
• Objectives of the Renewable Purchase Obligation:
  • Promotion of Renewable Energy: The RPO is designed to increase the use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Environmental Sustainability: By mandating a certain percentage of electricity to be sourced from renewables, the RPO aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmental sustainability.
• Current Status and Developments:
  • RPO Targets: The Ministry of Power (MoP) in India sets specific RPO targets for obligated entities, which include distribution licensees, open access consumers, and captive power producers.
  • Compliance Mechanism: The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) oversee the compliance of these targets. 
    • They also regulate the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism, which allows obligated entities to meet their RPO targets through the purchase of RECs.
  • Recent Updates: The Government of India has been updating RPO targets to reflect its increasing commitment to renewable energy. 
    • These targets are crucial for achieving the broader goals of the Paris Agreement and India’s own renewable energy targets.

UJALA Scheme 

The UJALA (Unnat Jeevan by Affordable LEDs and Appliances for All) scheme is a significant initiative by the Government of India to promote energy efficiency and environmental conservation. 

• It was launched on May 1st, 2015.
• Ministry responsible: Ministry of power

KUSUM Scheme

The PM-KUSUM was launched by the MNRE in 2019 in order to endow installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and reduce dependence on grid in grid-connected areas.

• Components: Installation ofgrid-connectedplants; installationn of Off-grid Solar Pumps and Solarization of Existing Grid-connected Agricultural Pumps
  • Ministry responsible: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 

Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY)

A scheme to provide solar street lighting in areas where grid power is either unavailable or unreliable. 

• It focuses on lighting streets using solar power, reducing dependence on conventional electricity and promoting renewable energy.
• Ministry responsible: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 

Conclusion

India’s comprehensive green initiatives, from the Green Energy Corridor to schemes like UJALA, KUSUM, and AJAY, highlight the country’s commitment to a sustainable energy future. 

• By integrating renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting green buildings, India is working towards reducing its carbon footprint and ensuring environmental conservation for future generations.