Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030 ? Justify your…

Question

Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030 ? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective ? Explain.

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

India has already met the capacity form of the target, with non-fossil sources at 50.07% of installed power capacity by mid-2025, but meeting half of total energy needs from renewables by 2030 is unlikely. Shifting subsidies to storage, grids and rooftop solar is the main lever to close that gap.

**Introduction**

India's COP26 Panchamrit (2021) pledged 50% of energy requirements from renewables by 2030, which the 2022 NDC framed as 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil sources. The answer depends on the measure used.

**Prospects of Meeting 50% From Renewables by 2030**

1. **Capacity target met early**: Non-fossil sources formed 50.07% of 484.82 GW installed capacity by mid-2025 (PIB, 2025), five years early.
2. **Falling costs**: Solar grew from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 107.9 GW by June 2025 as tariffs fell to Rs 2.15 per kWh.
3. **Generation lags capacity**: Low load factors mean coal still generates roughly three-quarters of electricity, and oil dominates transport.
4. **Storage and grid gaps**: The Central Electricity Authority projects a need for about 411 GWh of storage by 2031-32.

**How Shifting Subsidies to Renewables Helps**

SKETCH: flow | Subsidy Shift to Clean Power
- Trim fossil subsidies
- Free fiscal space
- Fund RE, storage, grids
- Cheaper clean power
- Higher RE share

1. **True price signals**: Fuel deregulation of petrol (2010) and diesel (2014) lets clean power compete on real costs.
2. **Storage and grids**: Savings can fund viability gap funding for battery storage and Green Energy Corridors.
3. **Mass adoption**: PM Surya Ghar has reached nearly 24 lakh households and PM-KUSUM about 9.2 lakh solar pumps replacing diesel.

**Way Forward**

1. **Track generation**: Measure the renewable share of electricity and final energy, not capacity alone.
2. **Targeted transition**: Keep Ujjwala LPG support for the poor and retrain coal workers.

**Conclusion**

The capacity target is already met, but 50% of total energy needs by 2030 will be only partly achieved. Redirecting subsidies to storage, grids and rooftop solar is the surest way to narrow the gap on the path to net zero by 2070.

Do you think India will meet 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable energy by 2030 ? Justify your answer. How will the shift of subsidies from fossil fuels to renewables help achieve the above objective ? Explain.

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