Analytically Dissecting the role of new

and renewable energy in Increasing

per capita energy consumption in
India

NAME : PINTU RAM

SAP ID : 500060941
ROLL NO : R450217075
BA,LLB (Energy Laws, B-2)
INTRODUCTION

 After the United States, China, and Russia, India is the world's fourth
largest energy consumer. India's total electricity usage per capita was
917.2 kWh in March 2013. By 2021–22, India's electricity
consumption is predicted to reach over 2280 BkWh, and around 4500
BkWh by 2031–32.
 India's energy consumption has been rising at a disproportionately
fast rate, owing to rising population and living standards. India's
current centralized energy planning relies heavily on thermal power
plants to meet its energy needs, with thermal power plants accounting
for over 70% of total installed capacity.
 This overdependence puts a strain on fossil fuels. The primary
problem is how to preserve fossil fuels for future generations while
simultaneously employing various energy resources to achieve high
and sustained economic growth. Thermal Power Plants have a
significant negative impact on the environment.
 To address the energy crisis, many sources of renewable energy
such as hydro, solar, wind, and biomass energy exist in nature.
These renewable energy sources, with their high power potential,
will eliminate the problem of electricity generation in the future.
 As a result, the main goals of this article are to look into ways to
give power to everyone in the country, especially in remote places,
to lessen strain on fossil fuels and store them for future generations,
and to safeguard the environment from global warming and,
ultimately, natural disasters.
 Current energy scenario of India
 Electricity demand will climb in the coming years as the economy
grows, as there is a significant link between rising energy use and
economic growth.
 India has been steadily working to expand its energy producing
capability. Energy demand, on the other hand, has been consistently
outstripping supply.
 The installation capacity of various sources of power by region. In India's
power sector, both state-owned and privately-owned enterprises are key
players, with the private sector increasing at a quicker rate.
 India's power sector is regulated jointly by the central government and
state governments.
Sources of energy
 Thermal power plant: Thermal power plants are India's primary source of
energy generation. Thermal power plants produce electricity and heat by
converting energy-dense fuel. Coal, natural gas, and petroleum products are all
potential fuels for thermal power plants.
 Nuclear energy: The energy generated by the nucleus of an atom as a result of
nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or radioactive decay is known as nuclear
energy. After thermal, hydroelectric, and renewable forms of electricity,
nuclear power is India's fourth major source of electricity.
 Hydro energy: Hydroelectric power plants use water's potential energy to
generate electricity. The hydroelectric power plant is built on a dam, with the
height of the dam being used to generate water potential energy for electricity
generation.
 Renewable energy: Renewable energy comes from natural processes that are
constantly renewed. Biomass, biogas, sun, wind, geothermal, tidal, and minor
hydro power are just a few of the renewable energy sources available in India.
India's power sector is one of the most active participants in the world when it
comes to renewable energy, particularly wind energy.
Comparison from past to present
 As a result of several countries' concerns about global warming, renewable
energy is becoming more competitive with fossil fuels. It is obvious that
the capacity of renewable energy has tripled in the last ten years. Wind
energy has a higher percentage share of all renewable energy sources and is
often competitive with fossil fuel-generated energy. It has been steadily
increasing since the 1990s, when wind turbine prices plummeted, and has
remained stable for the past ten years. However, during the last decade, the
average capacity factor has gradually increased.
 Many biomass power production technologies are well-established, and
biomass is a viable power generation option anywhere low-cost agricultural
or forestry waste is accessible. Because direct burning of agricultural
residue is causing environmental problems in Punjab and Haryana, biomass
energy will be used to generate more electricity in the following year.
Current energy policies in India

 National electricity policy 2005: The National Electricity Policy was

implemented in 2005 to improve access to electricity, meet demand for
electricity, overcome energy and peaking shortages, supply reliable quality
power at reasonable rates, increase per capita electricity availability by
1000 units, and make the electricity sector commercially viable to protect
consumers' interests.
A. Electricity Act 2003: The electricity act contains various sections that
focus on rural electrification, transmission and distribution, the promotion
of cogeneration and generation of electricity from renewable sources of
energy by providing suitable measures for grid connectivity and sale of
electricity to any person, as well as specifying, for purchase of electricity
from such sources, tariff principles, the establishment of the CEA, trading
development, and measures against electricity theft (SEBs).
 Tariff policy 2006: The Tariff Policy, which was introduced in January
2006, set a minimum percentage for energy purchases based on resource
availability, procurement by distribution companies at favourable pricing,
and other factors.
 National rural electrification policies 2006: The National Rural
Electrification Policies were developed in 2006 with the goal of supplying
electricity (reliable, high-quality power) to all families by 2009, as well as
providing energy to all villages via grid-connected or off-grid options, such
as stand-alone systems.
 National action plan on climate change 2008: the government
implements integrated energy policies in 2006 and 2008, as well as various
state policies and five-year plans, from time to time, in order to promote
renewable energy and encourage private sector participation in this field.
Conclusions and recommendations
 The power sector's emissions of greenhouse gases and the shortage of fossil
fuels encourage the development and promotion of renewable energy
sources. Renewable energy will continue to play an increasingly important
part in the country's total energy mix, helping to alleviate current and
future power supply gaps as well as improving electricity access in rural
areas.
 Improving efficiency also necessitates more R&D activity, new
technological innovation, benchmarking, and other measures.
 In India, there is a pressing need to capture and utilize non-conventional
energy sources in order to ensure the existence of future generations.
However, because grid extension in rural regions is frequently not cost
effective, localized electricity generation using non-conventional energy
sources such as tiny wind, hydro, solar, biomass, biofuels, and waste
energy is best suited to give the much-needed options.