Maarg Manthan · Topic 12.6

Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development

Environment & Ecology › Energy Resources · Topic 12.6

Renewable energy comes from sources that replenish naturally on human timescales: sunlight, wind, flowing water, biomass, geothermal heat and the oceans. It is central to sustainable development because it cuts greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, improves energy security and access, and creates jobs, and it directly serves Sustainable Development Goal 7 on affordable and clean energy. India's climate commitments include reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity and meeting half of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030, cutting the emissions intensity of its GDP, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, as announced at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. India has among the world's largest renewable capacities, led by solar, wind, hydro and biomass, but faces challenges: intermittency and the need for storage and grid upgrades, land and water needs, finance, dependence on imported solar cells, and the social costs of transition. Policy tools include renewable purchase obligations, solar parks, green energy corridors and production-linked incentives.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Energy Resources

At a Glance

SDG SDG 7, clean energy
India target 500 GW non-fossil by 2030
Net-zero year 2070
Announced at COP26, 2021
Key challenge Intermittency and storage
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Energy Resources

Where Does It Fit?

This topic ties together the individual energy sources covered earlier in the macro and puts them in the context of sustainability and India’s climate targets. Previous topic: Geothermal Energy and Solar Energy. Next topic: Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA).

How Do Renewables Support Sustainable Development?

Dimension	Contribution
Climate	Replace coal, oil and gas to cut greenhouse gas emissions
Health and air	Reduce air pollution from burning fuels
Energy security	Reduce imports of oil, gas and coal; domestic sun and wind
Access	Off-grid solar, micro-hydro and biogas reach remote areas and cooking needs
Jobs and industry	Manufacturing, installation and maintenance employ many people
Costs	Solar and wind are now among the cheapest sources of new power in India
SDG link	SDG 7 on clean energy, SDG 13 on climate action and others like health and jobs

What Are the Challenges and Policy Tools?

Intermittency: solar and wind vary with weather and time, so storage and flexible grids are needed
Storage: batteries, pumped hydro storage and green hydrogen
Grid: transmission lines and Green Energy Corridors to carry power from rich sites to cities
Land and ecology: large solar parks and wind farms need land and may affect habitats, such as the Great Indian Bustard areas
Imports: India still imports many solar cells and modules, so manufacturing schemes are promoted
Finance: high upfront cost and discom payment delays
Just transition: coal-dependent workers and regions need support
Policy: Renewable Purchase Obligation, solar parks, rooftop schemes, PLI for modules and batteries, and Electricity Act reforms

What Else Should You Remember?

Renewable sources: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal and ocean energy
India’s targets: 500 GW non-fossil capacity, half of energy requirements from renewables, net-zero by 2070, announced as part of five elements called Panchamrit
Panchamrit: India’s five-part climate pledge at COP26: 500 GW non-fossil, half of energy needs from renewables, 1 billion tonne less emissions, 45 percent lower carbon intensity and net-zero by 2070
Wind power: India has one of the world’s largest wind capacities, led by Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Karnataka
NIWE: National Institute of Wind Energy in Chennai
Hydropower: large hydro was declared renewable in 2019, with a focus on pumped storage
Small hydro: up to 25 MW projects under MNRE
Biomass power: from agricultural residues and bagasse cogeneration
Waste to energy: plants burn or digest municipal waste for power
Hybrid projects: solar-wind hybrids and solar with storage make supply more stable
Round-the-clock power: renewable energy with storage tenders for firm supply
Green energy corridors: transmission projects to evacuate renewable power
Energy storage: grid storage is key to using more solar and wind
Pumped storage: water pumped uphill when power is cheap and released through turbines when needed
Production linked incentive: incentives for domestic manufacturing of solar modules and batteries
ALMM: Approved List of Models and Manufacturers for solar modules
Solar RPO: obligation for distribution companies and others to buy renewable power
Net metering: lets rooftop solar users sell surplus to the grid
Energy access: electrification reached almost all villages and households under national schemes
Coal share: coal still supplies most of India’s electricity, so transition is gradual
Carbon market: India is building a domestic carbon market
Link to previous: see Geothermal Energy and Solar Energy
Link to next: see Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA)
Link to policy: see Solar Renewable Purchase Obligation
Caution: capacity figures and policy details are revised often, so check MNRE and the latest national updates
Exam hint: learn the five Panchamrit targets and the main challenges
Rooftop and distributed power: small solar systems on homes, farms and factories cut transmission loss and widen participation
Local benefits: solar parks and wind farms can bring lease income and jobs to rural areas

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

SDG: SDG 7
Targets: 500 GW, 2070
Pledge: Panchamrit
Current affairs link: Storage and green hydrogen
Common errors: mixing capacity share and energy share targets

As an analytical point, renewable energy is no longer just an environmental choice but also a cost and security choice. The main test is whether grids, storage and finance keep pace so that clean power can displace coal reliably and fairly.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Clean Emissions fall
Secure Fewer imports
Challenge Storage, grid

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Petroleum Conservation Research Association. Next topic: Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA).

Key People and Terms

Renewable energy Naturally replenished energy
Non-fossil Not from coal, oil, gas
Panchamrit COP26 five pledges
Intermittency Variable supply
Pumped storage Water-based energy storage
Net-zero Balance of emissions

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

SDG 7: clean energy.
Target: 500 GW by 2030.
Net-zero by 2070.
Announced at COP26.
Challenge: storage.

Do Not Confuse With

Renewable and non-fossil Natural renewal sources versus all low-carbon including nuclear
Capacity and generation Installed power versus actual output
Panchamrit and net-zero Five pledges versus the last pledge

Memory Hook

Seven for clean, five hundred by thirty, net-zero by seventy.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for targets and challenges. These points help.

Gains Climate, security
Gaps Grid, storage
Way Mix, finance

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss how renewable energy can contribute to sustainable development in India and the challenges in scaling it up.”

How to Answer

Gains Climate.
Targets 500 GW.
Challenges Storage.
Way Mix.

GS Relevance

Prelims: targets, schemes. GS Paper 3: energy, climate and sustainable development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replenished on human timescales, such as sunlight, wind, flowing water, biomass, geothermal heat and ocean energy. Unlike coal, oil and gas, they do not run out and produce little or no greenhouse gas during operation, which makes them central to climate action and sustainable development.

How does renewable energy relate to sustainable development?

Renewable energy supports Sustainable Development Goal 7 on affordable and clean energy and several other goals. It cuts emissions and air pollution, improves energy access and security, creates jobs and often lowers costs. However, projects must be planned to limit land, water and ecological impacts and to include local communities.

What are India's renewable energy targets?

India has pledged to reach 500 gigawatts of non-fossil electricity capacity and to meet half of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. These were part of five commitments, called Panchamrit, announced by the Prime Minister at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

What are the main challenges to renewable energy in India?

Challenges include intermittency of solar and wind, which needs storage and flexible grids; transmission capacity; land and water requirements; dependence on imported solar cells and critical minerals; high upfront finance cost and weak finances of power distribution companies; and support for workers in coal-dependent regions.

What is pumped storage?

Pumped storage is a way of storing energy by pumping water to a higher reservoir when power is cheap or surplus, such as at midday with solar power, and releasing it through turbines to generate electricity when demand is high. It helps balance variable renewable energy and is promoted as large-scale storage in India.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 SDG 7 deals with affordable and clean energy.

True

A key sustainable goal.

2 India's net-zero target year is 2050.

False

It is 2070.

3 Solar and wind are intermittent sources.