Towards Clean Energy

Nov 3: Towards Clean Energy – https://youtu.be/hTMctHJmmLM

TOPIC:

• GS-3: Climate Change
• GS-3: Energy

Towards Clean Energy

Context: Electricity drives our lifestyles. Everything from a computer to a television to refrigerator needs energy. 

• The energy supply sector (electricity, heat, and other energy) is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for approx. 35% of total emissions. 
• Switching to renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind or hydroelectric power, also means less pollution and new and better jobs. 
• To get back on track for the 1.5°C goal, emissions from the energy sector need to be halved by 2030 and eliminated by 2050. 

Launch of the `one world, one sun, one grid’ initiative at the COP 26 Climate Meet in Glasgow

Envisioning a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy green grids

Challenge: Solar energy is totally clean and sustainable. Challenge is that this energy is only available during the daytime and is dependent on the weather. ‘One Sun, One World & One Grid’ is the solution to this problem. Through a worldwide grid, clean energy can be transmitted to anywhere & anytime

It will – 

• Reduce storage needs
• Enhance the viability of solar projects
• Reduce carbon footprints and energy cost
• Bring together a global coalition of governments, international financial and technical organisations, legislators, power system operators and knowledge leaders to accelerate the construction of the new infrastructure needed for a world powered by clean energy

Main areas of work of the initiative will be: 

• Investing in solar, wind, storage and other renewable energy generation in locations endowed with renewable resources for supporting a global grid
• Building long-distance cross-border transmission lines to connect renewable energy generators
• Developing and deploying cutting edge techniques and technologies to modernise power systems
• Supporting the global transition to zero emission vehicles through incorporating the role of electric vehicles to help improve grid flexibility
• Attracting investment into solar mini-grids and off-grid systems to help vulnerable communities gain access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy
• Developing innovative financial instruments, market structures for solar grid infrastructure.

Green Grids Initiative 

Objective: Trading energy from sun, wind and water across borders to deliver more than enough clean energy to meet the needs of everyone on Earth.

• The initiative was endorsed by more than 80 countries.
• The ISRO has developed an application that could compute the potential solar energy at any point on earth and help decide if it would be suitable for solar energy installations.
• A Ministerial Steering Group will work towards accelerating the making of large solar power stations and wind farms in the best locations, linked together by continental-scale grids crossing national borders.
  • The Ministerial Steering Group includes France, India, the United Kingdom and the United States, and will also have representatives from Africa, the Gulf, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Other initiatives taken by the Government

India’s Commitment: India has also made a commitment at COP 26 Summit that by 2030 it will fulfill 50% of its energy requirement through renewable energy and bring its non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.

Regional Power Grid: Connecting more neighbouring countries through a regional power grid which can be used to supply electricity to surrounding nations without adequate number of power plants. 

International Solar Alliance (ISA): India has already initiated the International Solar Alliance (ISA) which aims to deploy over 1,000 GW of solar generation capacity globally and mobilise investment of over $1 trillion towards by 2030.

• It is a treaty-based inter-governmental Organisation. 
• It aims to mobilise investment of over $1 trillion by 2030. 
• Headquarter: Gurgaon
• It was established following the Paris Declaration as an alliance dedicated to the promotion of solar energy among its member countries.
• It has become India’s calling card on climate change and is increasingly being viewed as a foreign policy tool

Can you answer the following questions?

1. If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions. Discuss.
2. International Solar Alliance is India’s gift against Global Warming. Critically examine.