India Reimagined: Powered by the Sun and Driven by Hydrogen

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“We will never run out of resources. The supply of minerals is theoretically finite, but human knowledge and creativity are limitless.” — David Deutsch

As India strides towards a greener future, one powered not by the black fumes of coal or imported oil, but by the golden light of the sun and the clean potential of hydrogen. As the world’s most populous country and a fast-rising economy, India sits at the crossroads of a global energy transformation. The stakes are high, and so are the opportunities. This isn’t just a climate story. It’s a story of economic revival, energy independence, and sustainable growth. As the global community intensifies efforts to combat climate change, the quest for clean and sustainable energy solutions has taken centre stage.

Why Clean Energy Is a Critical Need for Developing Economies Like India?

India’s energy needs have surged in tandem with its economic growth. Currently, India ranks third globally in terms of energy consumption, with an annual growth rate of approximately 5%. Fossil fuels, particularly coal, still dominate the energy mix, accounting for over 70% of electricity generation. However, this reliance exacts a toll on the environment, with India ranking among the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters. The environmental challenges are hence daunting. Air pollution, a dire consequence of fossil fuel combustion, leads to over a million premature deaths annually.

According to a recent report, the world’s 100 worst-polluted cities are in Asia, and 83 of them are in India. Moreover, climate change threatens India’s agriculture, water resources, and coastal communities. Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns have imperilled food security and exacerbated natural disasters. These challenges showcase the need for India to embrace a transformative change. Renewable energy provides a pathway to mitigate emissions and drive sustainable development. Hence, the need for clean energy in India is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic necessity.

From Ancient Worship to Modern Power: India’s Solar Energy Revolution

The Sun has been worshipped as a life-giver to our planet since ancient times. The Industrial Revolution gave us an understanding of sunlight as an energy source. India is endowed with vast solar energy potential. About 5,000 trillion kWh per year of energy is incident over India’s land area, with most parts receiving 4-7 kWh per sqm per day. Solar photovoltaic power can effectively be harnessed, providing huge scalability in India. Solar also provides the ability to generate power on a distributed basis and enables rapid capacity addition with short lead times. Off-grid, decentralised, and low-temperature Applications will be advantageous from a rural application perspective and meet other energy needs for power, heating and cooling in both rural and urban areas. From an energy security perspective, solar is the most secure of all sources, since it is abundantly available.

Theoretically, a small fraction of the total incident solar energy (if captured effectively) can meet the entire country’s power requirements. With over 300 sunny days a year, India has the natural advantage to become a solar superpower. There has been a visible impact of solar energy in the Indian energy scenario during the last few years. Solar energy-based decentralised and distributed applications have benefited millions of people in Indian villages by meeting their cooking, lighting, and other energy needs in an environmentally friendly manner. The social and economic benefits include a reduction in drudgery among rural women and girls engaged in the collection of fuel wood from long distances and cooking in smoky kitchens, minimization of the risks of contracting lung and eye ailments, employment generation at village level, and ultimately, the improvement in the standard of living and creation of opportunity for economic activities at village level. Further, the solar energy sector in India has emerged as a significant player in the grid-connected power generation capacity over the years. It supports the government agenda of sustainable growth while emerging as an integral part of the solution to meet the nation’s energy needs and an essential player for energy security.

Key Initiatives:

International Solar Alliance (ISA) – Spearheaded by India to promote solar in 120+ countries.

PM-KUSUM – Solarising irrigation and empowering farmers.

Rewa Solar Park (MP) – Powering infrastructure like the Delhi Metro

Impact in Action:

Baripatha, Odisha: A remote village now runs entirely on solar energy.

Delhi Metro: Uses over 60% solar electricity, significantly cutting emissions.

Driving Towards Net Zero: The Promise of Hydrogen Energy

“We are the representatives of the cosmos; we are an example of what hydrogen atoms can do.” — Carl Sagan

Hydrogen, the simplest and most abundant element in the universe, has the potential to be the fuel of the future. It’s an energy carrier that can store and deliver energy in a usable form. In its pure form, hydrogen is a colourless, odourless and non-toxic gas. It’s high in energy, yet an engine that burns pure hydrogen produces almost no pollution, making it a desirable source of power.

India’s National Hydrogen Mission

India has announced a target of energy independence by 2047 and a net-zero goal by 2070. Green Hydrogen is expected to play a substantial role towards achieving these goals. Green Hydrogen is produced by the process of electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity generated from renewable sources like solar, wind, or hydropower. This process results in a clean and emission-free fuel that has immense potential to replace fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions. Another method of producing Green Hydrogen is from biomass, which involves the gasification of biomass to produce hydrogen. Both of these production methods are clean and sustainable, making Green Hydrogen an attractive option for the transition to a low-carbon future.

The need for Green Hydrogen is rapidly increasing due to its potential to decarbonise several sectors, including transportation, shipping, and steel, among others. Green hydrogen can replace traditional fossil fuels in transportation, which contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. It can also be used in industry for the production of ammonia, methanol, and steel, which are currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Additionally, Green Hydrogen can be used as a backup energy source for renewable energy plants, providing a constant and reliable source of energy.

Green hydrogen has numerous applications and can be used in fuel cells to power vehicles and provide electricity. It can also be used in heating systems and in the production of chemicals and fertilisers. Hydrogen fuel cells have a high energy density and are more efficient than traditional combustion engines, making them an attractive option for powering vehicles. Furthermore, Green Hydrogen can be used in microgrids, providing electricity to remote areas and enabling energy independence.

The importance of Green Hydrogen in achieving energy independence for India cannot be overstated. The production of Green Hydrogen using renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower can provide energy security, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and ensuring a stable and reliable source of energy. Green hydrogen can also be produced locally, reducing the need for costly and environmentally damaging imports. Furthermore, Green Hydrogen produced using waste biomass provides an additional revenue stream for farmers and local communities. Hence, India has launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of Rs. 19,744 crores with a target of 5MMT production capacity of Green Hydrogen per annum.

Key Initiatives:

Reliance Industries: Investing heavily in green hydrogen to become the world’s largest producer by 2030.

NTPC: Running hydrogen buses in high-altitude Leh.

Indian Railways: Piloting hydrogen-powered trains.

Conclusion: India’s Clean Awakening Has Begun.

India’s energy future isn’t just green but also bright and inclusive. From solar rooftops in Rajasthan to hydrogen buses in Ladakh, the clean energy story is unfolding, empowering communities, creating jobs, and setting a global example. The time to act is now. Not just for climate, but for jobs, health, and prosperity.