Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Question – “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. 15 February 2022

AnswerEnergy is the golden thread that firmly links economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability. It generates a steady stream of power to meet basic human needs, maintain and improve social functioning, and raise living standards.

With access to modern energy it is possible to improve the ‘public health burden’, ‘the problem of low productivity and efficiency’. India is the most populous country, lacking electricity and clean cooking energy.

Reaffirming this, SDG-7 is committed to affordable and clean energy for all.

India has huge potential for renewable energy through wind, solar, biomass and small hydro, concentrated in some parts of the country. But to cheer on these renewables, India’s renewable energy sector is in need of significant financing.

Steps taken by India:

  • India wants to achieve 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030, one of the ways to arrest global warming.
  • The Government of India has also focused its attention on the rural clean energy sector, by supporting ‘distributed production’ in the form of community-based, ‘self-sustaining biomass and solar energy’.
  • ‘National Solar Mission’ also has an ambitious goal of providing 2 crore solar lighting systems in place of kerosene lamps.

India’s efforts to achieve SDG-7:

To improve access to energy-

  • Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY): Under this scheme , India has achieved the goal of electrification of every village.
  • ‘SAUBHAGYA scheme’ was launched for electrification of every household.
  • For improving the access of electricity many schemes like ‘One Grid One Nation’, ‘Integrated Power Development Scheme’ (IPDS) and ‘UDAY’ scheme was launched.

Striving for Sustainable Energy:

  • For improving energy efficiency ‘Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LED for All (UJALA)’
  • For improving energy efficiency ‘Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LED for All’ (UJALA) was launched. Under the scheme, 31.68 crore LED bulbs distributed under UJALA scheme resulting in estimated cost savings of INR 16,457 crore per year, estimated energy savings of 41.14 billion kWh per year with avoided peak demand of 8,237 MW and GHG emission reduction of 33.32 million t CO2 per year.
  • ‘The Chiller Star Labelling Program’ has been launched by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency to encourage the deployment of Energy Efficient chiller systems. The program envisages providing star rating in terms of its energy performance.
  • Goal of Sustainable Habitat Program of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE): In order to complete the process of standardization for building materials for energy efficient building construction, an online directory of building materials will be created. Nirman Awards (NEERMAN- National Energy Efficiency Roadmap for Movement towards Affordable & Natural Habitat Awards) will be announced, aimed at promoting exceptionally efficient energy building models designed in line with BEE’s Energy Conservation Building Code.
  • ‘Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga’ scheme for laying gas pipelines and connecting the western, northern and south-eastern gas markets with major gas sources. This will also help in establishing city gas distribution networks in smaller cities, thereby increasing access to CNG-gas stations and direct-to-home cooking gas lines.
  • HELP- The new Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy: to increase the domestic production of oil and gas, thereby lessening the global price shocks on consumers.
  • The Ultra Mega Power Projects (4000MW each) with supercritical technology to achieve higher thermal efficiency.
  • India has set a target of 175 GW of renewable energy generation by 2022. In this direction, India has increased the installed solar capacity, taking the country’s solar installed capacity to 29.41 GW as on 31 May 2019. Overall, the country is projected to add about 16 GW of clean energy capacity in 2019, largely driven by solar projects. The current wind power installed capacity in the country is about 32.75 GW.
  • Similarly, schemes and subsidies for installation of biomass gasification, bagasse co-generation, small hydro plants, off-shore wind plants. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100% is permitted under the automatic route for renewable energy generation.

Thus, a robust national framework for implementation and funding support for states would be critical to achieve the desired targets. A dedicated nodal agency at the centre to coordinate effectively with the state level agencies could help.

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