IANS | 25 Apr, 2024
India's Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal highlighted the steps that the
Narendra Modi government was taking to promote solar power in the
country to help convergence towards the COP28 renewable energy and
energy efficiency commitments at the ongoing 26th edition of World
Energy Congress.
At a Ministerial Round Table Conference on
Wednesday, he said the government's initiatives like the PM-KUSUM Scheme
and solar rooftop programmes were promoting environmental
sustainability and job creation. The Indian Carbon Market will further
advance sustainability efforts, he added.
PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri
Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) is a solar power scheme
aimed at ensuring energy security for farmers in India along with
honouring India's commitment to increase the share of installed capacity
of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources to 40 per cent by 2030
as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
The
scheme has a target of setting up 10,000 MW of Decentralised Grid
Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land and installing
27.50 lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps on farmlands in the
country as part of the big push for green energy.
Agarwal also
pointed out that the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration is a testimony
of India's efforts for building convergence towards the COP28
commitments of doubling the global rate of energy efficiency
improvements every year and tripling the global renewable capacity by
2030.
The Secretary also said that India's Mission LiFE has been
lauded for advocating sustainable lifestyles, echoing global consensus
at COP27 and G20 forums. He also spoke about COP28's recognition of
transitioning towards carbon neutrality, with emphasis on Carbon
Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and green hydrogen.
The
Secretary emphasised that developing countries require support in
accessing financing and clean technologies, to help them navigate the
energy trilemma effectively.
The Conference discussed how the
COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai was a game changer. It also
discussed energy innovation and collaboration, and implications in
managing the evolving energy trilemma trade-offs.
The Round Table,
held on day three of the World Energy Congress, was attended by Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister for Climate and Energy Policy of the
Netherlands, H.E. Rob Jetten and senior representatives of different
countries and organisations.
The 26th World Energy Congress is
expected to be a critical turning point for leadership on clean and
inclusive energy transitions worldwide.
Themed 'Redesigning Energy
for People and Planet', the four-day gathering marks the World Energy
Council's centenary in world energy.
The Congress seeks to explore the role of connected energy societies in driving forward global energy transitions.