India Moving Towards Solar Energy

A milestone in India’s journey towards solar energy was the launching of India’s National Action Plan On Climate Change in 2008. The 12th five year plan recognized the necessity of moving to a low carbon growth and suitable strategies were covered for specific sectors of power, transport, industry, buildings and forestry. At present, the renewable share in total energy is about 2.2% only. The acceleration of the renewables in India and enhancing that share will bring India closer to the fulfilment of its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) under the Paris Climate Change Agreement. At the UN climate action Summit, New York, held on 23rd September 2019, Prime Minister announced that India expects to increase the share of non-fossil fuel in its energy use. By 2022, India plans to increase renewable energy capacity beyond 175 GW and later to 450 GW. This paper argues in favor of a higher share of 5% of renewables in the total energy use in India and outlines measures to meet the challenges of making available solar energy at an affordable cost to the large masses. The cooperation of Indian enterprises must come forward. This will secure twin dividends of poverty reduction and clean energy usage.