Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
India, the world's third-largest energy consumer, heavily relies on imports for nearly 85% of its crude oil and over 50% of its natural gas, posing significant economic and geopolitical challenges. Recognizing this vulnerability, India has set an ambitious target to achieve energy independence through clean technology by 2047, coinciding with 100 years of independence. This vision aligns with the nation's commitment to climate goals, including achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070. The transition involves a comprehensive shift towards sustainable, indigenous energy sources and efficient consumption, with clean technologies forming the bedrock of this transformative journey.
Pathways to Energy Independence through Clean Technology by 2047
Achieving energy independence requires a concerted effort across multiple sectors, primarily driven by scaling up renewable energy and improving energy efficiency.
- Scaling Renewable Energy Capacity: India aims to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity by 2030. This includes significant expansion in solar (targeting 280 GW by 2030) and wind power, supported by initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana for rooftop solar and PM-KUSUM for solarizing agricultural pumps.
- Green Hydrogen Mission: The National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in January 2023 with a budget of INR 197.4 billion, targets producing 5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030. This will decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like refineries, fertilizers, and steel, while also fostering export opportunities.
- Electric Mobility Transition: A widespread shift to Electric Vehicles (EVs) across private, commercial, and public transport sectors is crucial. The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme supports this by providing subsidies and building charging infrastructure, aiming for nearly 100% new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035.
- Energy Storage and Grid Modernization: Investing in advanced battery energy storage systems (BESS) and pumped hydro storage is vital to manage the intermittency of renewable sources and ensure grid stability. India projects BESS capacity to reach 47.23 GW by 2031-32.
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation: Implementing stringent energy efficiency standards across industries, buildings, and appliances will reduce overall energy demand. Initiatives like the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme promote industrial energy efficiency.
Biotechnology's Crucial Role in Energy Independence
Biotechnology offers innovative and sustainable solutions by converting biomass and waste into various forms of energy, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and enhancing circular economy principles.
- Biofuels Development:
- Ethanol Blending: India has advanced its target of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol to 2025-26. Biotechnology facilitates the production of first-generation ethanol from sugarcane and maize, and increasingly, second-generation ethanol from agricultural residues like rice straw, reducing crude oil imports and addressing stubble burning.
- Biodiesel and Bio-jet Fuel: Development of biodiesel from non-edible oils (e.g., Jatropha) and used cooking oil (UCO) offers alternatives to conventional diesel. Research in algal biofuels promises carbon-neutral fuel options for aviation and marine sectors.
- Biogas and Bio-CNG Production:
- Through anaerobic digestion of agricultural waste, municipal solid waste, and animal dung, biogas (which can be upgraded to Bio-CNG) is produced. The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative aims to establish 5,000 compressed biogas (CBG) plants by 2023-24, leveraging biotechnology for decentralized energy generation for transport and cooking.
- Biohydrogen Production:
- Microorganisms like cyanobacteria and algae can produce hydrogen through photobiological processes, offering a clean pathway for green hydrogen. Research and development in this area are crucial for diversifying hydrogen sources.
- Waste-to-Energy Solutions:
- Biotechnology plays a pivotal role in converting various waste streams into energy, aligning with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan goals. This includes converting municipal solid waste and industrial effluents into electricity or useful fuels, thereby addressing waste management challenges while generating energy.
- Advanced Biorefineries:
- Biorefineries utilize biotechnology to convert biomass into a range of bio-based products, including biofuels, biochemicals, and biomaterials. This integrated approach maximizes value extraction from biomass and minimizes waste.
The BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Employment, and Environment) Policy underscores India's commitment to transforming its bioeconomy, targeting a growth from US$ 130 billion in 2024 to $300 billion by 2030. This policy supports R&D in clean energy, waste treatment, and sustainable materials, integrating technology with environmental and economic goals.
Conclusion
Achieving energy independence by 2047 is a strategic imperative for India, driven by both economic security and climate commitments. This ambitious goal is attainable through a synergistic approach involving aggressive deployment of renewable energy, a robust green hydrogen ecosystem, rapid electrification of transport, and enhanced energy efficiency. Biotechnology emerges as a critical enabler, offering sustainable pathways for biofuel production, waste-to-energy conversion, and novel clean energy solutions. By fostering innovation and investment in these clean technologies, India can significantly reduce its fossil fuel import dependency, create a circular bio-economy, and secure a resilient, sustainable, and 'Atmanirbhar' energy future.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.