Indias Clean Energy Conundrum

Raakhee Suryaprakash

We the inhabitants of the Earth have consumed its natural resources allowance for 2017 by August 2
itself. Earth Overshoot Day, or what was Ecological Debt Day, has arrived earlier this year by almost a
week (It was Aug 8, 2016) as a population of over 7 billion chomps down on our planets resources faster
every year. Just as the saving mindset is being replaced by credit mindset in our budgets the
consumerist approach has translated into our attitude towards our ecological resources. We humans are
at fault this reflects the other anthropogenic trends of most carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the
hottest year yet. Developed nations more at fault than poorer nations while urbanites consuming more
than the rural populations. And this urban life style across the globe is the most ecologically expensive.

Indias NITI Aayog released the draft national energy policy for comment in the last week of June 2017.
Although its mostly guidelines and not actual policy yet its a worrying harbinger of more things staying
the same as more things change. The waste of natural resources and inefficient harnessing of cleaner
options is a major feature of the draft. Despite reiterating our commitment to the Paris Climate Accord
India is not really walking the talk. The policy mentions the climate change and air quality angles

The adverse effects of climate change are much more discernible

than ever before, with a better understanding of the relationship
between energy use and poor environmental outcomes. While the
global agenda is of common concern, there is a heightened
consciousness of the need to fix poor air quality standards in Indian
cities

Yet according to this same draft we will be increasing Indian grid reliance on coal-powered thermal
power stations from 197GW as per June 2017 to anywhere up to 441GW by 2040. As a nation where
poverty, pollution and access to electricity are major concerns betting on coal is a major policy stumble.
In order to stop the world from overheating and crossing the 2 degrees threshold mandated by the Paris
Agreement we need to curb our dependence on fossil fuels and go the clean energy way yet thats not
what the energy policy indicates.

Even as clean energy resources, such as, wind and solar power nears grid parity our continued hunger
for coal is irresponsible. Air pollution and its costs are a major concern in India this should be a main
factor for eschewing fossil fuels but it is not so. India may be betting on electric cars but when the
source of this electricity is coal its not much better than petrol, diesel and natural gas powered
vehicles.

The clean energy conundrum is glaring in India. We may have committed to the SDG7 but we forget the
clean part of it and calculate the affordable price of fossil fuels without taking into account the cost
of the damage it does to environment and health. We may have put a Swachh Bharat Cess on fossil fuels
and now a high GST but when policy promotes coal exporting and thermal power stations insincerity is
revealed.
India launched the International Solar Alliance, Indian innovators are making clean energy affordable to
the common man, organizations are promoting the use of solar power and clean energy grid parity is a
reality is the commercial sector and will be a reality in the residential sector soon. Yet instead of
promoting innovators and encouraging clean energy suppliers with long term renewable purchase
obligations (RPOs) the draft energy policy is leaning towards the tried and tested coal industry despite
the ecological harm its mining and transport causes. As Arun George of Avant Garde Innovations
pioneering in low-cost rooftop wind energy generating systems puts it, urgent sustainable measures
to tackle this problem of affordable and clean energy access in India are necessary. The company
unlike many other Indian solar and wind energy solutions is 100% Make in India. 100% Startup
India product.

While the grid continues to be dependent on coal and costs rise at least for the urban middle class
we need to adopt grid-connected and off-grid clean energy solutions in the community level upwards.
Power crunches, power shutdowns, load shedding and blackouts during bad weather as well as the high
cost of electricity beyond the 500 units are problems the resource hungry urbanites in India face. Yet by
adopting clean energy solutions we can reduce our ecological footprint and do our bit to avert climate
change. Greenpeaces Solar Comet - a solar powered house on wheels fitted with usual electricity
powered household appliances and launched in New Delhi this past Environment Day demonstrates
that solar panels are a great investment with a wonderful return on investment in cutting the dreaded
electricity bill. While we campaign for a national energy policy to become cleaner and true to Indias
climate commitments perhaps city dwellers who can afford it can demonstrate to peers the savings
both monetary and ecological that going the clean energy way can bring.