Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Can India set an example when it comes to renewable energy development?


The renewable energy sector in India has been witnessing a rapid growth in recent times, and consequently, it presents an opportunity for strong financial returns.There are quite a few factors behind this. India is short of power, and thus, new renewable capacity generates electricity for a market which is undersupplied. Secondly, renewable energy can be more swiftly taken to market in place of other alternatives like coal fired power. Besides, renewable electricity prices are similar to those of electricity from other sources. India benefits from truly market-led renewable energy demand, without any major subsidies. There has been consistent and vital support from the Indian Government and this has not only reinforced the market fundamentals but also created a dynamic market which seems firmly on the growth path. The country already possesses 35 GW in terms of overall renewable energy capacity and plans to grow this 500% over a period of six years from now. Indian renewable energy development has presently got a shot in the arm and is progressing at a rapid pace.

India presently has a golden chance to properly shape its entire policy. Social and economic growth are one of the priorities of the government’s agenda, and new energy sources to cater to this demand are increasingly being derived from renewable energy. A number of factors have contributed to this. Besides the government policy which has been supportive, a wider set of actions, which include incentives, infrastructure and investment promotions, were taken up. Technology development, larger-scale projects and the learning effect has facilitated the use of efficient designs and have brought down costs. This makes renewable energy alluring to power utilities that are contracting new long-term capacity, and in addition, this helps avoid burdens relating to the fuel risk and also take or pay contracts. Multiple renewable energy projects have also come into being.

Renewable energy companies are minimally dependent on fiscal support from the government in India. It signifies an investor with a given capital can fund more projects across regions or even various asset classes for diversification into risks which are resource based. Additionally, a lower cost structure also means that an investor gets early or better prepared gains from better returns. Public opinion is positive with the recognition of environmental, economic and social benefits. According to recent studies, wind potential of 40-65 times higher is possible with new technologies and more scale. Additionally, new initiatives have come up for exploration of offshore wind, provision of solar parks or construction of transmission corridors for green energy and these can support overall development of the market. The considerations to meet energy demands, lower costs, sustainability and energy security are fueling renewable energy growth in the country. This also holds true at a global level. The industry estimates that Europe will add 109 GW of renewables by 2020 while India aims at reaching a staggering 175 GW or even adding 140 GW by the year 2022. This makes for a lucrative opportunity for developers and suppliers and is also a significant transformational chance for the power market and electricity policy alike.  

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