India is preparing to deal with climate risks, the emphasis on green growth in the budget is a wise step

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-Dr Seema Javed-

Taking over the reins of G20, India is preparing to deal with climate change by 2023. The government has made a provision for green growth in the budget this time to prevent rising climate risks, for example, from March-April itself, to prevent the destruction of crops due to heat wave, drought or floods. This step of the government is not surprising but it is sensible.

environmental crisis serious problem

It is worth noting that this year the weather is already predicted to be hotter, in such a situation, it is expected that the sun will start to shine in the plains of India from March-April itself. If you look carefully, this year’s budget is presenting many such solutions which will be effective in reducing the use of coal in a phased manner in the coming days. Also, in the coming times ahead of extreme weather events, coal generated electricity will be more effective.

Net zero emissions target by 2070

Anyway, to fulfill the Paris Agreement, India has set a target of becoming a net zero economy by the year 2070. In the National Energy Policy (NEP), the target for the year 2027 has been increased to 186 GW by increasing the installed solar power capacity by 2030 and increasing the renewable energy by 36 MW in the draft of the new power plan.

Coal use will decrease

According to the data of Global Solar Power Tracker and Global Wind Power Tracker, India has been placed in the top 7 countries in terms of potential renewable energy capacity. If this expectation is realized, then India can avoid the use of about 78 million tonnes of coal every year.

Provision of crores for hydrogen mission

The recently launched National Green Hydrogen Mission, with a budget provision of Rs 19,700 crore, will reduce the carbon intensity of the economy, reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, and catapult the country into this emerging sector. Will help lead the technology and market. The government aims to reach an annual production of 5 MMT by 2030. The National Green Hydrogen Policy is a direct indication of the government’s strong will towards environmental protection.

focus on energy storage

To propel the economy on the path of sustainable development, battery energy storage systems with a capacity of 4,000 MWH will be handled with viability gap funding. A detailed outline will also be prepared for pumped storage projects. The Center recently unveiled a $30 billion plan to build an electricity transmission system to store renewable energy capacity. It also includes a commitment to set up transmission lines to extract 10 GW of offshore wind power from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. A new plan has been announced to install about 51 GW of battery energy storage system by the year 2030. In order to propel the economy on the path of sustainable growth in the budget presented this year, battery energy storage systems with a capacity of 4,000 MWH will be handled with Viability Gap Funding. A detailed outline will also be prepared for pumped storage projects.

Transmitting electricity made from renewable sources to the grid

As a solution to the challenges in the use of renewable energy, this year’s budget presented renewable energy evacuation ie electricity generated from solar, wind, or other renewable sources to be delivered to the grid for immediate distribution (as it is difficult to store electricity). That’s why its immediate distribution is necessary and effective). In view of this, an investment of 20,700 crores will be made in the budget to build an inter-state transmission system for the evacuation of 13 GW renewable energy from Ladakh. 8300 crore will be supported by the central government in this.

Provision of 35 thousand crores for energy transition

On the other hand, in this budget for energy transition, there is a provision of capital investment of 35,000 crores by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas for energy transition, net zero goals and energy security. Also energy storage projects, to propel the economy on the path of sustainable development, battery energy storage systems with a capacity of 4,000 MWH will be handled with viability gap funding. A detailed road map will also be prepared for pumped storage projects. With such a background, this budget has written the text of reducing the use of coal in a phased manner. Even though critics are calling it a populist budget before elections, but it is a good news for dealing with climate change.

(The author is an environmentalist, climate change and clean energy communication expert)

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