Unlocking India's Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen Potential for a Sustainable Future
Key Ideas
  • India's renewable energy potential exceeds 24 TW, but achieving the 7 TW required for net-zero emissions by 2070 demands a holistic approach addressing challenges like land access and population density.
  • CEEW estimates India needs over 5,600 GW of solar capacity and 1,800 GW of wind capacity for net-zero emissions. States like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh show high potential for renewable energy projects.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of strategic land use, improved water management, and resilient power grid infrastructure for scaling up technologies like solar, wind, and green hydrogen to meet climate goals sustainably.
  • Recommendations include involving all stakeholders, utilizing higher-quality data for potential validation, establishing land banks, and addressing climate risks to ensure India's ambitious renewable energy and green hydrogen targets are achieved equitably.
A recent report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) reveals that India has an enormous renewable energy potential exceeding 24 terawatts (TW), although not all of it is currently achievable. To reach the 7 TW necessary for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, India must adopt a comprehensive approach to tackle obstacles such as land access, climate risks, land conflicts, and population density. The study estimates that India will require a solar capacity of over 5,600 GW and a wind capacity of 1,800 GW to realize its net-zero emissions goal. Notably, states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Ladakh exhibit significant potential for low-cost solar and wind energy projects. The research emphasizes the critical role of strategic land use, improved water management, and resilient power grid infrastructure in scaling up renewable energy technologies like solar, wind, and green hydrogen to meet India's climate objectives sustainably. The study also identifies challenges such as population density, land conflicts, and climate risks that could impede the deployment of renewable energy beyond 1,500 GW. Additionally, the report highlights the potential for India to produce around 40 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of green hydrogen at a cost lower than $3.5 per kilogram. It suggests that western and southern India, particularly states like Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, have the capacity to lead in green hydrogen production. The CEEW study recommends a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders to ensure the successful and equitable achievement of India's ambitious renewable energy and green hydrogen targets. It underscores the importance of using high-quality data for potential validation, establishing land banks, and addressing climate risks to guarantee the long-term commercial viability of renewable projects amidst varying constraints.
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