Starting from here to reach net zero

Now that Narendra Modi has announced a net-zero target for India by 2070, India needs to boost energy efficiency across the economy, and reduce carbon emissions at power plants for focused climate action. The way ahead is to induce ultra-low emissions at thermal plants, even as India steps up integration of renewables into the electric grid. The PM also set a target for 500 GW of installed non-fossil fuel power-generation capacity by 2030. And, India would meet half its energy requirements from renewable sources within a decade. Note that both small and large hydroelectric capacity now comes under the renewable energy (RE) label. And that large solar and wind power capacities are slated to produce green hydrogen (GH), the environmentally benign fuel of the future. Energy planners also need to boost resource allocation for advanced biogas plants that use farm and municipal wastes as feedstock to shore up RE.

In tandem, India has to speed up diffusion of the indigenously developed advanced ultra-super critical boiler technology to rev up thermal efficiency at conventional power plants, and adopt integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology for domestic fuel, for enhanced efficiency. Alongside, we need to fast-forward indigenous technology for gainful carbon capture at power plants. Power major NTPC and engineering specialist L&T have joined hands to commercialise methanol plants at the former's thermal stations. And methanol can be blended with automotive fuel, so as to reduce emissions.

In the foreseeable future, there would be ample scope for new fibres and materials via carbon capture - perhaps building material, too. What's required is technology forecasting and attendant follow-through policy action to actualise India's potential as a hub for subsequent carbon innovation. Besides these, India must urge its energy partners like the US to rapidly commercialise carbon capture, sequester and use technologies, which can then be quickly and suitably adopted for Indian conditions and resource endowments.