Page 10 - The Indian EYE 102023

OPINION OCTOBER 20, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

India’s Deep Sea Mining Endeavours:

A SEARCH FOR CLIMATE

SOLUTIONS IN DEEP WATERS

MANORANJAN SRIVASTAVA

ndia is one of the world’s fastest
growing major economies with a
Ipopulation of around 1.4 billion,
and is likely to become world’s third
largest economy in 2027. The eco-
nomic and social development of its
large populace is intrinsically linked
with its energy requirements and
consumption. The energy needs of
India are therefore bound to grow in
future and its energy security is going
to be of strategic importance.
Even as India is poised to be a
crucial player in the global energy
market, its accomplishment in ener-
gy development has been extraordi-
nary. From being a power deficient
nation with profound leaning on coal
for its energy requirements, its jour-
ney to a power surplus nation is in-
credible. Presently, its total installed
electricity capacity stands slightly
more than four lakh MW. India is
the third largest renewable energy
producer in the world and non-fossil
fuel sources contribute 40 per cent of Table 1 -- Source: Central Electricity Authority, Government of India
its installed electricity capacity.
India ranks fourth globally in en-
ergy consumption behind China, the goals (SDGs) have pushed India to The story of renewable energy in open seas has resulted in spotlight
US and the European Union (EU). expand its renewable sources of en- in India dates back to 1960s when turning towards offshore wind ener-
As per the International Energy ergy. Setting an eye on becoming the windmills were developed by the gy. India’s large peninsular area with
Agency (IEA), India is likely to over- world’s largest green hydrogen hub, National Aeronautical Laboratory an equally large coastline of 7,516
take the EU by 2030 and to move up India in January 2022 approved the (NAL). In 1982, the Department of kms enhances prospects of harness-
to the third spot. Per capita energy National Hydrogen Mission to re- Non-conventional Energy Sources ing offshore wind energy.
consumption in 2021–22 in India was duce dependency on fossil fuels. The (DNES) was established under the To tap this vast renewable ener-
however awfully low at 1255kWh, al- present decade has also witnessed Ministry of Energy. Confronted by gy potential, Government of India in
most one-third of the global average. unprecedented reforms, technolog- oil crisis, India started seeking al- 2015 notified the ‘National Offshore
The IEA has forecasted that in the ical advancements, policy decisions ternative sources such as renewable Wind Energy Policy’ which designat-
coming two decades, India would ac- and collaborations in the turf of solar energy to achieve energy security, ed the Ministry of New and Renew-
count for the largest energy demand and wind energy, both of which have economic development and to mit- able Energy as the nodal Ministry for
growth. the potential to surge ahead of coal igate climate change. In 1992, the development of Offshore Wind En-
From depending heavily on fos- and gas. DNES was rechristened as Ministry ergy in India.
sil fuel, India has rapidly shifted to- Table 1 shows the installed ca- of Non-Conventional Energy Sourc- The MNRE has been entrusted
wards clean and renewable sources pacity of electricity production in es and was thereafter renamed as the with the responsibility of Develop-
of energy. It has provided electric- India, as on 28 February 2023. The Ministry of New and Renewable En- ment and Use of Maritime Space
ity connection to millions and pro- contribution of renewables is near- ergy (MNRE) in 2006. within the Exclusive Economic Zone
moted schemes like Unnat Jyoti by ly 41 per cent with production of With rapid urbanisation, the on- (EEZ) of the country and for over-
Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) around 169 GW (including large hy- shore wind industry is facing prob- all monitoring of offshore wind en-
and Street Lighting National Pro- dro). Pie Diagram 1 illustrates that lems such as paucity of land resourc- ergy development in the country.
gramme (SLNP) enhancing energy the wind and solar have lion’s share es and exhaustion of best windy sites. Significant headway has been made
efficiencies. Concerns for climate of around 87 per cent of the total re- On the other hand, the better-qual- since then. The initial assessment
change and sustainable development newable energy installed capacity. ity obstruction free wind availability Continued on next page... >>

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