Covid-19 pandemic presents India with an opportunity to work towards building a clean, resilient, and least-cost energy future—according to a new report by government policy thinktank NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI).
The report discusses how Covid-19 is beginning to influence India’s clean energy transition, specifically for the transport and power sectors. It identifies principles and strategic opportunities for the country to drive economic recovery while maintaining momentum on the clean energy transition, focusing on electric vehicles, energy storage, and renewable energy programs.
Invest in least-cost energy solutions
Costs of clean energy technologies like wind and solar are falling steeply. The economic savings associated with a clean energy future can be redeployed to support critical development priorities, the report states.
The report cites the example of the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) program, which decreased the unit cost of LED bulbs by over 75% in 18 months.
Other examples include solar and wind emerging as India’s lowest-cost electricity sources, even without subsidy. Electric buses are beginning to present a lower total cost of ownership than that of diesel buses for city bus services.
Support resilient and secure energy systems
Building a resilient future is critical for India to deal with pandemics and extreme weather shocks arising out of climate change. Resilience could involve selecting industries, technologies, or systems that help adapt to unexpected shocks or crises.
In India, future growth will demand resilience on multiple fronts, such as energy system design, urban development and transport design, industrial growth and supply-chain management, and the livelihoods of the underprivileged, according to the report.
Further, India can gradually reduce its exposure to commodity imports and foreign supply chains through distributed energy systems and the promotion of domestic manufacturing.
Prioritize efficiency and competitiveness
The Covid-19 pandemic has signified the importance of diversifying supply chains and manufacturing locations for critical technology. India can leverage manufacturing prowess and technology leadership to become a more self-sufficient economy and globally competitive export hub over time.
In particular, given the scale of demand and stage of development in the country, battery manufacturing presents India with a substantial opportunity to emerge as a global leader.
According to a recent analysis by NITI Aayog and RMI, India’s energy storage market in 2030 is expected to be worth Rs 1 lakh crore across the electric vehicle, stationary storage, consumer electronics, rail, and defence sectors.
Further, circular economy solutions—efficient and thoughtful use of resources—should become a core feature of India’s future economy as it pushes for make in India.
Circular manufacturing
pv magazine’s current quarterly UP initiative theme will bring together – and critically investigate – circular manufacturing projects in the solar industry; ask what the future holds; and identify ways PV companies can start effectively integrating such principles into their business models. If you‘ve been working on the topic of circular manufacturing, are involved in the circular economy or want your company to take part, let us know! Contact up@pv-magazine.com to contribute to the topic.
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