According to Department of Science and Technology (DST) India has achieved its solar power installation target four-years ahead of the set timeline as the target of installing 20 GW of solar power by 2022 was achieved in January 2018. The solar panel installation was as a part of climate change mitigation strategy.
New Target:
“India has now set a new target of achieving 100 GW of solar power by 2022.”, said Adviser and Head of Climate Change Programme of the Department of Science and Technology, Dr Akhilesh Gupta
Gupta also said that the India was one of the least contributors to global warming that is inducing climate change but it was feared to be one of the worst affected countries.
“It is a global trend vis-a-vis climate change that least contributors are the worst affected, he added.
Dr Akhilesh Gupta Raise Concern On Some Major Issues:
By pointing out at the rising temperature in the Himalayan region which was a big challenge facing the country due to the global phenomenon of climate change he said that Himalayan states of the country including those from Northeast especially Assam and Mizoram were staring at harsh days ahead.
He wanted to attract the attention towards the Assam as it is highly vulnerable because of least area under irrigation, least forest area available per 1,000 rural households, least number of farmers taking loans, lowest per capita income, low percentage area covered under crop insurance and low MGNREGA participation.
Gupta was addressing on the occasion of 30th Foundation Day of biodiversity conservation and research organisations Aaranyak on Monday.
Gupta also pointed towards the major initiatives that have been taken by the Centre to mitigate the problems which has led to decrease in emission intensity of India’s GDP by 12 percent between 2005 and 2010.
Growth Of India In Renewable Sources :
India is one of the countries with the largest production of energy from renewable sources that accounts near about 34.6 percent of the total installed power capacity while large hydro installed capacity is 45 GW contributing to 13 percent of the total power capacity.
The India is the fourth-largest wind power producer in the world with 36,625 MW capacity.
Four of the top seven largest solar parks worldwide are in India including the second largest solar park in the world at Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, with a capacity of 1000 MW.
The world’s largest solar power plant:
- Bhadla Solar Park – is being constructed in Rajasthan with a capacity of 2,255 MW and is expected to be completed shortly.
India is promoting Nuclear power as a environmentally benign and economically viable source and with a 2.2 percent share in current installed capacity the country aims to achieve 63 GW installed capacity by the year 2032.