Image by Roman from Pixabay
Introduction
The Indian government has consistently prioritised the adoption of clean energy sources by targeting a more sustainable future while also boosting employment opportunities. As per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India currently has a total installed capacity of 90 GW of renewable energy excluding hydropower it. They even have a structured plan to add 27.41 GW to the previous total installed capacity of renewable energy. While renewable energy is a significant contributor to India's energy sector there is still considerable room for growth and improvement in this area.
In November 2022, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) stated its intention to keep with the National Bioenergy Programme for energy recovery until 2025–2026 by allocating INR 858 crore for the first of the two stages. The program goal is to facilitate the utilization of cattle dung, biomass, urban and industrial biowaste for energy recovery purposes. This message has drawn attention to the green sector by stressing the Government of India’s current obligation to bio-energy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), implementing such government plans could give outcome in bioenergy by producing 130 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) of useful energy by 2040 which will be able to fulfil approximately 15% of India’s total energy demand at that time.
India and Germany deepen collaboration on Bioenergy solutions
This part details a recent visit by India's Ambassador to Germany, Harish Parvathaneni to two prominent German research institutions: the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ). The visit highlights India's growing interest in collaborating with Germany on developing and implementing advanced bioenergy solutions.
Focus on Biomass research
Ambassador Parvathaneni's discussions with UFZ and DBFZ representatives centred on exploring possibilities for increased cooperation in biomass research. Biomass refers to organic matter from plants, animals, and micro-organisms which can be converted into various forms of energy including biofuels and electricity.
India's Bioenergy needs
Bioenergy offers a promising option as it can be produced from renewable resources and potentially contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fossil fuels.
Strengthening India-Germany ties
The visit underlines the strong relationship between India and Germany. The two countries have enjoyed a "Strategic Partnership" since 2000, further solidified by the launch of Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) in 2011. Additionally, they share a robust partnership in economic and developmental spheres.
Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP)
This piece also touches upon the growing Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) between India and Germany. This partnership focuses on promoting environmentally friendly practices and technologies. Notably, the German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann expressed enthusiasm about discussions on green hydrogen, a clean energy carrier produced from renewable electricity and water.
Ambassador Ackermann envisions India becoming a future exporter of green hydrogen, potentially supplying Germany and other countries. This highlights the potential for India to not only address its own energy needs but also emerge as a leader in the clean energy sector.
Collaboration for a Sustainable Future
Overall, Ambassador Parvathaneni's visit and the discussions on GSDP signify India and Germany's commitment to working together towards a more sustainable future. By leveraging their scientific expertise and technological advancements in bioenergy and green hydrogen both nations can achieve their clean energy goals and contribute to combating climate change.
Promoting Biomass Power in India: programmes and implementation strategies
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the potential and significance of bioenergy particularly biomass power within the Indian energy landscape. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) along with various other agencies has actively pursued initiatives to explain this potential. This has resulted in significant investment with an annual influx of over USD 130 million (INR 600 crore) into the biomass power sector. The output is impressive it will be contributing around 5000 million units of electricity annually and providing employment opportunities exceeding 10 million employees in rural areas alone.
MNRE Programmes
Under the Biomass Power/Cogeneration Programme, the MNRE has introduced a range of financial and fiscal incentives to encourage the manufacturing and installation of gasifier systems. Additionally, the biomass gasifier programme focuses on facilitating demonstrations that are often undertaken by village-level organizations like panchayats which play a crucial role in addressing local issues. State nodal agencies along with energy service companies (ESCOs), cooperatives, NGOs, and entrepreneurs are actively involved in implementing these initiatives.
Green Hydrogen implementation roadmap that India aims
Given the immense potential that green hydrogen holds for India, it's imperative to take decisive action to capitalize on the opportunities it offers. This part outlines ten practical steps to shape a National Action Plan for Green Hydrogen.
- Crafting a Detailed Roadmap for Green Hydrogen: Supplementing the recent announcement of the National Hydrogen Mission, there's a critical need for a comprehensive national roadmap or strategy focused solely on green hydrogen. Such a roadmap that is tailored for the long term would not only boost investor confidence but also align the efforts of various stakeholders across the value chain and governmental bodies towards a unified goal.
- Stimulating Supply-Side Interventions to Lower Costs: Similar to strategies deployed for other technology deployment initiatives, the government can play a pivotal role in incentivizing early producers to drive down the cost of green hydrogen to $1/kg. Existing policies already target this objective through measures like waiving inter-state transmission charges and granting open access for green hydrogen and ammonia production. Further interventions could involve tax reductions, preferential dollar-based electricity tariffs, revenue recycling from carbon taxes, low-emission power purchase agreements (PPAs) and mechanisms to ensure a stable electricity supply including discounted grid electricity to complement variable renewable energy generation.
- Setting targets and incentives to scale production: The government can set clear targets and provide incentives to achieve a green hydrogen production capacity of 160 GW. By establishing mandates for hydrogen blending in existing sectors like refineries and ammonia production as well as potentially in future sectors like steel and heavy-duty vehicles demand certainty for early green hydrogen projects can be ensured by fostering market development. In addition, incentives such as production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes targeting export markets for green steel can be introduced to encourage adoption in industries where the viability of green hydrogen is still emerging.
Strategies adopted for the promotion of Bioenergy in India
The national strategy aimed at promoting bioenergy involves the implementation of various financial and fiscal measures at regular intervals to facilitate the growth and adoption of bioenergy applications across different sectors. Under this initiative, the government is employing a multifaceted approach by utilizing a range of policies both existing and forthcoming, to encourage and facilitate the utilization of bioenergy in diverse applications. These efforts include several key areas:
- Biofuel Generation: Efforts are underway to produce biofuels derived from sources such as urban, industrial, and agricultural waste. These biofuels are intended for use in both fuel and thermal applications within industries and transportation networks.
- Power Recovery: Another aspect of the strategy involves connecting power from agricultural and municipal solid waste (MSW) to feed it into the national grid. This power can then be utilised to meet the energy demands of various consumers.
The main goal is to foster the development of a robust bioenergy market that capitalises on decades of experience while incorporating innovative technologies and advancements. This approach aims to deliver sustainability benefits and enhance livelihoods.
To realize these objectives some specific interventions have been identified including the availability of adequate feedstock and implementing efficient end-to-end supply chain management practices. Providing support for the exploration of new and innovative bioenergy applications. Facilitating access to capital on a large scale to enable investment in bioenergy projects. Supporting research and development (R&D) initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and maximising the utilisation of bioenergy resources while also identifying and capitalising on co-benefits associated with bioenergy production and utilisation.
Conclusion
India has a proactive approach towards renewable energy by focusing on various strategies to overcome obstacles and promote Bioenergy Technologies (BETs). These strategies include investing in research and development to lower costs and ensure dependable performance, conducting large-scale demonstrations, offering subsidies on capital costs and providing financial incentives based on performance. Competitive tariffs are encouraged for biomass power generation along with guarantees on performance. Moreover, there's an emphasis on building a strong network of entrepreneurs and skilled individuals for the construction, operation and maintenance of bioenergy systems. Additionally, education and awareness campaigns are integral to circulating information about BETs and their benefits to the wider population.
. . .
References: