Acheiving Net Zero Target: Challanges and Opportunities

India, as an emerging economy, is expected to see an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, though starting from a low base, in its efforts to achieve development and poverty eradication. It is important to note that India’s historical cumulative emissions from 1850 to 2019 account for less than 4% of the world’s cumulative carbon dioxide emissions since the pre-industrial era, despite housing 17% of the global population. This highlights that India’s contribution to global warming has been minimal, and even today, its annual per capita emissions are about one-third of the global average.

At the 26th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26) in November 2021, India announced its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. In line with Article 4, Paragraph 19 of the Paris Agreement, India submitted its long-term low-carbon development strategy to the UNFCCC, reaffirming its commitment to reaching net-zero by 2070. India’s strategy is guided by the principles of equity, climate justice, and the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) framework.

India’s Commitment to Achieving Net Zero:

Renewable Energy Targets:
India has progressively set more ambitious renewable energy goals, increasing from 175 GW by 2022, announced at the Paris Agreement, to 450 GW by 2030 at the UN Climate Summit. At COP26, India further raised the target to 500 GW by 2030. Additionally, India aims for 50% of its installed power generation capacity to come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, up from the previous 40% target, which has nearly been met. India has also launched a Hydrogen Energy Mission focused on developing grey and green hydrogen.

Energy Efficiency Initiatives:
Through the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT) scheme, India avoided 92 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions during the first two cycles, showcasing its success in energy efficiency.

Transport Sector Reforms:
India is rapidly transitioning to e-mobility under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme. It leapfrogged from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms by April 2020, earlier than the scheduled 2024. A voluntary vehicle scrapping policy aims to phase out old, unfit vehicles, while the Indian Railways is targeting full electrification of all broad-gauge routes by 2023.

Support for Electric Vehicles (EVs):
India is one of the few countries backing the global EV30@30 campaign, aiming for 30% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030. India’s “Panchamrit” commitment, presented at COP26, underscores its dedication to this cause. Several initiatives have been introduced to foster the EV ecosystem, including the revamped FAME II scheme, a Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC), and a PLI scheme for Auto and Automotive Components to encourage EV manufacturing.

Government Initiatives:
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has enabled 88 million households to transition from coal-based cooking fuels to LPG connections. Under the UJALA scheme, over 367 million LED bulbs have been distributed, resulting in a reduction of 38.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually. These and other programs helped India reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 24% between 2005 and 2016.

Role of Industries in the Low-Carbon Transition:
India’s public and private sectors are playing a vital role in addressing climate challenges, driven by increased customer and investor awareness, regulatory standards, and disclosure requirements. Notably, the Indian cement industry has achieved significant milestones in reducing carbon emissions. The synergy between India’s climate policies and private sector actions is steadily growing, reflecting the country’s commitment to a low-carbon future.

Challenges

Challenges in the Transition to Renewable Energy:

Land Identification and Clearance: Identifying land with renewable energy potential and navigating the lengthy land clearance procedures present significant hurdles.

Grid Integration: Incorporating a larger share of renewable energy into the existing grid infrastructure is another major challenge.

Decarbonizing Difficult Sectors: Penetrating so-called “hard-to-decarbonize” sectors with renewable energy will require overcoming significant obstacles.

Challenges for Coal-Powered Companies:

Transition from Coal: While the shift from coal to renewable energy is relatively straightforward for companies in the service sector, it is much more challenging for companies heavily reliant on coal, which contribute to over half of India’s emissions.

Lack of Technology and Skilled Labor in EV Manufacturing:

Technological Deficiency: India faces a shortage of technology in producing critical components for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, such as batteries, semiconductors, and controllers.

Skilled Labor Shortage: EVs have higher servicing costs, which demand advanced technical skills. However, India lacks dedicated training programs to meet this requirement.

Consumer Issues in Shifting to EVs:

Insufficient Charging Stations: As of 2018, India had only 650 charging stations, a stark contrast to neighboring countries with over 5 million, making long-range travel inconvenient for consumers.

Higher Cost: The price of a basic electric vehicle is significantly higher than that of conventional fuel-powered cars, creating a financial barrier for consumers.

Study and findings

According to the findings of one study,

• India possesses over 24,000 GW of untapped renewable energy potential, with states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Ladakh showing the highest potential for development, according to a study.
• However, the research highlights that building the necessary infrastructure to support an additional 1,500 GW of renewable energy will present significant challenges, potentially hindering India from achieving its energy goals.
• The study identifies factors such as population density, land conflicts, and climate risks as potential obstacles. Around 71% of India’s wind energy potential and 73% of its solar energy potential are located in regions with a population density of 250 or more people per square kilometer. This indicates limited access to land resources, meaning renewable energy solutions must consider existing infrastructure and crowded land conditions.
• Additionally, 65% of the wind energy potential and 59% of the solar energy potential are found in areas prone to land conflicts, further complicating development efforts.

What can be done?

Encouraging Private Sector Engagement:

1. Industrial Emissions Reduction: Given that industries contribute significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, effective climate action must focus on reducing or offsetting emissions from industrial and commercial activities.
2. Service Companies’ Role: Service-based companies can lower their emissions by increasing the use of renewable energy and collaborating with supply chain partners. They can achieve carbon neutrality by sourcing at least 50% of their electricity from renewable sources.
3. Opportunity for Coal-Powered Companies: For coal-dependent companies, the ongoing energy transition provides a chance to invest in climate technologies and increase reliance on renewable energy.

Electric Vehicles as a Solution:

1. Energy Security Improvement: Electric vehicles (EVs) can enhance India’s energy security by reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil imports, which account for over 80% of its needs and cost around $100 billion annually.
2. Addressing Charging Infrastructure: To resolve EV charging challenges, infrastructure powered by local electricity grids can be installed at private residences, public utilities (e.g., petrol and CNG stations), and commercial spaces such as malls, railway stations, and bus depots.

Boosting R&D in EVs:

1. Indigenous Technologies for EVs: The Indian market requires locally developed technologies, both from strategic and economic perspectives. Investments in local research and development are essential to drive down costs, and universities and industrial hubs can play a key role in this process.
2. Global Synergies in EV Development: India can explore partnerships with countries like the UK to collaborate on EV development.

Government Support for Green Hydrogen and Renewables:

1. Investment in Green Hydrogen: The government should invest in high-quality data to explore the prospects of green hydrogen, promote renewable energy development on both public and private land, and assess the capacity challenges associated with new energy sources.
2. Stakeholder Involvement: Engaging stakeholders early in the process will help to avoid potential conflicts and ensure smoother implementation of energy transitions

Decisive action is essential to achieve global net-zero emissions and limit future cumulative emissions within the remaining carbon budget. This is crucial to ensure that the rise in global temperatures stays within the thresholds outlined in the Paris Agreement.

The End of the Blog: Acheiving Net Zero Target: Challanges and Opportunities