INDIA BECOMES 3RD-LARGEST WIND AND SOLAR POWER GENERATOR - ECONOMY
NEWS: In 2024, India overtook Germany to become the third-largest producer of electricity from wind and solar energy, according to Ember’s Global Electricity Review.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
About Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2025
1. Publisher: Released by Ember, a global energy think tank dedicated to accelerating the transition to clean energy through data and policy.
2. Annual Coverage: This is Ember’s sixth annual report, offering a comprehensive overview of global electricity generation trends in 2024.
3. Data Scope: Covers electricity data from 215 countries, with 2024 data available for 88 countries, accounting for 93% of global electricity demand.
4. Regional Focus: Provides regional insights for 13 groupings, including Africa, Asia, the European Union (EU), and the G7 nations.
5. Key Focus Areas: Analyzes data on electricity generation, weather patterns affecting generation, and capacity expansions.
6. Deep-Dive Focus: Offers detailed analysis of the top 7 countries and regions which together are responsible for 72% of global electricity demand.
7. Objective: Aims to enable independent analysis and encourage global policy shifts toward clean electricity.
Global Trends in Electricity Generation (2024)
1. Wind and Solar Share: Together, wind and solar contributed 15% of global electricity generation in 2024.
2. Low-Carbon Milestone: Low-carbon sources (renewables + nuclear) generated 40.9% of global electricity — crossing the 40% threshold for the first time since the 1940s.
3. Solar’s Dominance: Solar power remained the largest source of new electricity for the third consecutive year, with an addition of 474 TWh in 2024.
4. Solar Growth Streak: Solar has been the fastest-growing power source globally for 20 straight years.
5. Solar Share Doubled: The global share of solar power in electricity generation doubled to 6.9% within just three years.
India’s Electricity Performance (2024)
1. Renewable Share: Wind and solar together contributed 10% of India’s total electricity generation in 2024.
2. Total Clean Energy: Including hydropower, clean energy sources made up 22% of India's electricity, with hydropower alone contributing 8%.
3. Solar Growth: India’s solar share doubled since 2021, reaching 7% of total electricity generation.
4. Capacity Addition: India added 24 GW of new solar capacity in 2024 — more than double the 2023 addition.
5. Global Solar Ranking: India emerged as the third-largest solar market, trailing only China and the US.
6. Generation Increase: India recorded the fourth-largest increase in solar electricity generation globally in 2024, adding 20 TWh.
India’s Climate Commitments & National Goals
1. NDCs to UNFCCC (2022): India committed to achieving 50% of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
2. 500 GW Goal: In 2021, India announced a target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, which is still a key reference in national plans.
3. Planning Reference: Though the 500 GW goal wasn’t formally added to India’s updated NDCs, it features prominently in key policy documents like the 14th National Electricity Plan.
Key Solar Power Initiatives by the Indian Government
1. National Solar Mission (Updated 2022)
• Target: 100 GW of solar capacity.
• Focus: Promotion of grid-connected solar power across India.
2. Solar Parks Scheme
• Goal: Develop 40 GW of large-scale solar parks.
• Purpose: Facilitate land and infrastructure for solar developers.
3. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Solar PV (2021)
• Support: Incentivizes domestic manufacturing of high-efficiency solar modules.
• Aim: Reduce dependence on imports and strengthen solar supply chains.
4. Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II
• Focus: Encourages solar installations on residential rooftops.
• Benefit: Provides capital subsidies to households for adoption.
5. PM-KUSUM Scheme (2019)
• Purpose: Promote solar pumps and grid-connected solar plants for farmers.
• Goal: Reduce diesel dependency and enhance farmer incomes.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-overtakes-germany-to-become-3rd-largest-generator-of-wind-solar-power-report/article69425757.ece