It is on gradual transition of sources of energy for the generation of electricity from hitherto mainly fossil-based fuels to renewable ones for sustainability as well as to net zero carbon emission.

1. ASHOK KUMAR RAJPUT
CENTRAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY
NEW DELHI, INDIA
SUPPLEMENTED & PRESENTED BY
SUBRATA MUKHOPADHYAY, LSIEEE
NETAJI SUBHAS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, NEW DELHI, INDIA
ENERGY TRANSITION AND
NET ZERO INITIATIVES
23PESGM4066

2. Energy Transition
Energy transition refers to the process of shifting from traditional, non-renewable
sources of energy (such as coal, oil, and natural gas) to cleaner and more
sustainable sources of energy. Energy transition involves:
Development and deployment of new and more efficient technologies;
Capacity building of employees;
Creation of supportive policy frameworks;
Creation of public awareness;
Arranging know-how and finances; and
Imparting education in this field.

3. Goal of Energy Transition
To create a more sustainable and resilient
energy system that can meet the needs of
society while minimizing environmental
impacts and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions.

4. Net-Zero
 Being ‘net-zero’ or ‘climate neutral’ on GHG
emissions means taking out of the atmosphere the GHGs that are
put in;
 A country would have to reduce its emissions across sectors and
remove the remaining emissions from the atmosphere through
various strategies such as creating carbon-sinks (by increasing
forest cover or using technological solutions);
 Some countries, however, limit this neutrality to just carbon
emissions, not other harmful GHGs. The ideal scenario is ‘zero
emissions’ when all GHGs have been reduced.

5. India’s Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDC)
 To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent
by 2030 from 2005 level; (Revised one- By 2030 India will reduce
the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45%);
 To achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed
capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030;
 To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 Billion tonnes of
CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030;
 To better adapt to climate change by enhancing investments in
development programmes in sectors vulnerable to climate
change.

6. Goals of Power Sector
 India will achieve 50% of Non-Fossil based capacity by 2030;
 India will reduce the total projected carbon emission by 1 Billion
ton from now till 2030;
 By 2030 India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy to
less than 45%;
 30% vehicles as Electric Vehicles by 2030;
 India must resolve to become energy-independent by 2047;
 By the year 2070 India will achieve the target of net-zero.

7. India’s Commitment –COP 26
LIFE’– ‘Lifestyle for
Environment;
 Low-cost international
finance including from Green
Climate Fund (GCF).

8. Landmark Policy Decisions and Steps
Budget 2022 also focused on promotion of renewable
Energy. Provisions of budget for RE are based on four
pillars- Swavalamban “Self Reliance”, Samridhi
“Wealth”, Sashaktikaran “Empowerment”, and
Shakti “Energy / Power”. Under these pillars
various RE promotional announcements have been
made:
 Outlay for manufacturing of Solar PVs under
Production Linked Scheme (PLI) has been
increased;

9. Landmark Policy Decisions and Steps
 Custom duty of 25% and 40% was announced on
import of Solar cells and modules while extending
the concessional tax regime of 15% until March
2024;
 0.5% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) will
be tied to power sector reforms;
 Inclusion of hydro and solar power projects in the
budget for Ken-Betwa link project.

10. Landmark Policy Decisions and Steps
 Allocation of Indian Rupees, INR 350 Billion for priority capital
investments towards energy transition and net zero objectives,
and energy security.
 Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for 4,000 MWh battery energy
storage systems and formulation of a detailed framework for
pump storage projects (PSPs).
 Investment of INR 207 Billion including central support of INR 83
Billion for strengthening of interstate transmission system for
evacuation and Grid Integration of 13 GW renewable energy from
Ladakh.
 Notification of Green Credit Program under the Environment
(Protection) Act for encouraging behavioral change.

11. Landmark Policy Decisions and Steps
 Prime Minister / Pradhan Mantri (PM) Program for Restoration,
Awareness, saving of earth life and promote alternative fertilizers
and balanced use of chemical fertilizers.
 Amrit Dharohar, scheme to encourage optimal use of wetlands,
and enhance bio-diversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism
opportunities and income generation for local communities.
 Coastal shipping to be promoted as the energy efficient and lower
cost mode of transport, both for passengers and freight, through
Public Private Participation (PPP) mode with viability gap funding.
 Scrapping policies for the old vehicles.

12. MoP and MNRE Initiatives
Ministry of Power (MoP), and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE) led Policy initiatives and reforms along with different kind of
financial assistance/support-
 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) facilitation as per rules.
 Setting up of Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Parks to provide land and
transmission to RE developers on a plug and play basis.
 Schemes such as PM Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan
(PM-KUSUM), Solar Rooftop Phase II, 12,000 MW CPSU (Central Public
Sector Undertaking) Scheme Phase II, etc.

13. MoP and MNRE Initiatives
 Standards for deployment of solar photovoltaic system/devices.
 Setting up of Project Development Cell for attracting and
facilitating investments.
 Standard Bidding Guidelines for tariff based competitive bidding
process for procurement of Power from Grid Connected Solar PV
and Wind Projects.
 Issuance of order that power shall be dispatched against Letter of
Credit (LC) or advance payment to ensure timely payment by
distribution licensees to RE generators.

14. MoP and MNRE Initiatives
 Green Term Ahead Market (GTAM) launched to facilitate procurement
of RE power through power exchange in the country.
 Development of Renewable Energy Management Center (REMC) - 12
REMCs in RE rich Regions/States (including the one at NLDC), and
One (01) Energy Management Centre (EMC) at Andaman have already
been established and these are operational.
 Development of Green Energy Corridor.
 MoP notified Scheme for Flexibility in Generation and Scheduling of
Thermal/Hydro Power Stations through bundling with Renewable
Energy and Storage.

15. Development of Storage infrastructure
Legal Status to ESS: MoP granted legal status to Energy Storage
Systems (ESS), allowing them to be used independently or in
conjunction with generation, transmission, and distribution
infrastructure.
Department of Heavy Industry (DHI) brought out a Production
Linked Incentive (PLI) for achieving manufacturing capacity of fifty
(50) Giga Watt Hour (GWh) of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) and
5 GWh of "Niche" ACC with an outlay of INR 181Billion.
Facilitating Ease of Doing Business (EoDB).

16. Development of PSPs
 Facilitating ‘Off-River PSPs’ and ‘River-based PSPs’ with existing
reservoirs. In addition, the following are under consideration:
CEA shall identify national resources/ assess the potential for Off-
River PSPs and simplify and fast-track their approval process
(within 90 days).
Degraded forest lands that have been allocated for compensatory
afforestation may be allowed for the development of ESS (including
Off-River PSPs and On-River PSPs where both reservoirs exist).
GOI is in the process of formulation of the National Energy Storage
Policy.

17. RPO and Transmission system development
 Must Run Status to RE and Hydro.
 Trajectory for replacing thermal energy with 58,000 MU (30,000
MW of RE capacity at 22% Capacity Utilization Factor) RE by
2025-26 has been issued.
 Transmission plan for 2030 for proper evacuation from RE reach
area to load centers.
 Waiver of Inter-State Transmission Charges on Transmission of
the Electricity generated from Solar and Wind Sources of Energy.
 Trajectory for Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) and Energy
Storage Obligation trajectory till 2029-30.

18. Pollution control measures in Power Generation
 Promoting rational use of fossil-fuel based capacity.
Energy Efficiency in Thermal Power Plants
The capacity of about 18362.24 MW comprising 260 units
of inefficient and old thermal power generation units has
already been retired till March 31, 2023.
Installation of pollution control equipment at thermal
plants viz. Flue-Gas Desulphurization, augmentation of
Electro-Static Precipitator and Low NOx burner is being
planned and implemented
Biomass co-firing

19. National Green Hydrogen Mission
 Policy Support and Financial Assistance to RE Projects;
 GOI has launched a Green Hydrogen policy with an outlay of about INR 197
Billion. The Mission will result in the following likely outcomes by 2030;
Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million
Metric Tons) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of
about 125 GW in the country;
Over INR 8,000 Billion in total investments;
Creation of over 6,000 Billion jobs;
Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over INR 1,000 Billion;
Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

20. Challenges in RE integration
 Land acquisition issues for RE sources and transmission
facilities;
 Scaling and integrating a large share of intermittent renewable
energy in the national grid without compromising its resilience
and reliability;
 Need for flexible generation resources/storage facilities;
 Development of cost optimized Green Corridors;
 Geological Variations.

21. Way Forward
 India must exploit solar and wind energy, and especially green
hydrogen energy, in its electricity system to meet the ever-
increasing energy demand.
 Investment, infrastructure development, private-public
partnership, green financing, policy framework need to be
strengthened both at the national level and regional level.
 Green energy has tremendous potential in contributing to
income, employment, and entrepreneurship and undoubtedly
fosters sustainable development.
 Focus on achieving green energy and self-reliance in the Energy
Sector together.

22. Way Forward
 Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS): This
technology can play a diverse role in meeting global energy and
climate goals. CCUS will support India’s aspiration by enabling
green and sustainable base load power.
 To put in place resources and institutions that can be leveraged
to work on supporting the just transition including skills
development.
 Consortium approach should be adopted for technology
development and adaptation.
 Technology Development Programs (TDP).

23. Net Zero: Opportunities for the power sector-
Conclusions
 The results are forthcoming and especially in the power sector,
there is gradually higher and higher contribution of the
Renewable Energy share in the energy mix.
 The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will provide a dedicated
platform for cooperation among solar-resource-rich countries and
can contribute to help achieve the common goal of increasing the
use and quality of solar energy.
 The entrepreneurs have to cash in the opportunities, bring
innovation and its faster adoption.

24. Net Zero: Opportunities for the power sector-
Conclusions
 Technology will be the biggest partner in achieving the goals.
 All the countries should come forward and disseminate the
technological advancements achieved by them.
 Last but not the least initiatives should be at the Global level.
 Knowledge and resources should be pooled for common benefits.

25. THANKS!!!!