With a population of 1.3B people, I come from a country with rising energy needs. India, with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a fifth of the world’s population, is pioneering a new model for development. An approach that avoids the carbon-intensive route towards growth.
I had the chance to first-hand witness the execution of this model, which in turn triggered the need for further education and formed the basis of my master’s selection. In this article, I am going to share some insights about the clean energy transition underway in India, my core motivation for pursuing a master’s with EIT InnoEnergy and my learnings here until now.
Energy and emissions in India
India is a developing country, and its rapid economic growth has led its annual CO2 emissions to become the third highest in the world. But there are some key facts to note so that we have some context.
First, India’s per capita energy consumption is half the world average. Similarly, CO2 emissions per person put it near the bottom of the world’s emitters. Though lower per capita energy consumption feels good to hear, it signals the scope for growth or lifestyle improvement.
Second, India is aggressively adding renewable energy capacity. For example, investment in renewable energy hit a record level in the last fiscal year. While solar was a whopping 78% of all new capacity additions in the year. Even though as of now, coal accounts for more than 50% of the energy mix (also the reason for higher carbon intensity). The good news is that its dependence on coal is declining extremely fast.
The Transition
India has set some steep targets to reach net zero emissions, but I am not here to talk about those numbers. I am going to focus on the transition that I have witnessed and shaped my decision for choosing EIT InnoEnergy Master School for further education in this mission.
Some of the key drivers for India’s renewable energy growth right now are rising fuel prices, the declining cost of renewable energy, push to manufacture solar photovoltaic modules, and government support schemes like the waiver of transmission charges for renewable energy.
Consumers are increasingly more aware of clean energy options. The rise in residential rooftop solar, and the stunning adoption of electric two-wheelers clearly indicates the potential of Indian consumers to ride along the transition. Though the behavior is still partially dependent on government schemes, it is an appreciable start. Mind well, this is a trend in the urban or semi-urban areas of the country. The anomaly is that even today, there is a lack of reliable electricity supply for many consumers across remote regions.
Businesses in India to a substantial extent depend on government subsidies to adopt green energy practices, but thankfully in the past couple of years, the overall energy scenario is forcing a shift towards cleaner options just for the sake of economic viability.
Active work on National Energy Storage Policy, Off-shore Wind Energy initiatives, and the recently announced Green Hydrogen roadmap all indicate the positive momentum from a public policy standpoint. India has massive renewable energy potential that is yet to be fully exploited. As discussed earlier, its developing economy is going to see huge growth in energy demand. The country not only needs to make a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy but also has new incremental demand that needs to be met through additional renewable energy capacity.
What’s more, India’s most recent participation on COP27 where they committed to phase-down all fossil fuels, not only coal, indicates the countries commitment with green energy resources and countless potential business opportunities for professionals with entrepreneurial ambitions.
My motivation to pursue a masters
Though, I strongly believe that for India to unlock its complete potential for clean energy, policy reform alone is no more enough. Unfortunately, lucrative growth incentives do not allow stringent enforcement of climate policies, and we do not have much time for a smooth transition. It will need innovative business models, cheaper financial resources, and greater access to clean energy technologies to spearhead this energy transition.
My master’s programme is precisely focused on these areas. Its unique blend of business, technology and social aspects in learning sum up to be the primary driver for my decision to pursue a master’s, specifically with EIT InnoEnergy.
About two months ago, I started my double degree programme: EIT InnoEnergy Master’s in Energy Technologies, at Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon. Since then, I have noticed quite a few nuances of the sustainability culture here. For example, there are a lot of discussions around circularity and End of Life for technologies by professors, consumers as well businesses and startups.
The professors frequently mention industry trends and significant ongoing projects around the world which help to get a global scale of sustainability practices. And finally, the immense networking opportunities with fellow change leaders is the most valuable experience for me. To round it all up, I am confident that the exposure provided by this programme will equip me to create an impact in the future of clean energy for India, and I hope to make the most of it!
by Praneet Daspute, EIT InnoEnergy Master School student
Virtual Open Day: 23 February 2023
EIT InnoEnergy Master School Virtual Open Day is the best way to get a real taste of university life and one step closer to finding your ideal programme in sustainable energy engineering!
Meeting EIT InnoEnergy Master School team, learning about career prospects and interacting with our universities, will give you the confidence and clarity you will need to thrive from day one! The event will close with a Q&A session offering you an opportunity to directly interact with all presenters!