The North Indian state of Rajasthan is making significant strides in renewable energy, positioning itself as the leading producer of clean energy in the country. New data released by global energy think tank Ember reveals that the share of fossil fuels in Rajasthan’s power generation mix has reached record low levels, accounting for only 50% from April to July 2023.
During the same period, fossil fuels produced 34 TWh of electricity, showing no growth in comparison to the previous year. However, solar and wind power generation witnessed a substantial increase of 28% year-on-year, producing 27 TWh of electricity. Just two years ago, the generation from solar and wind sources was less than half of the current amount. When combined with other clean energy sources such as nuclear, hydro, and bioenergy, clean power generation in Rajasthan now matches the generation from fossil fuels.
The growth in power generation in Rajasthan was solely driven by solar and wind energy, with an increase of 4.4 TWh during January to July 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. This has resulted in a 10% reduction in carbon emissions intensity in the state. Rajasthan has actively promoted the deployment of solar and wind power fleets through its Solar Energy Policy and Wind Hybrid Energy Policy implemented in 2019.
Investments in Rajasthan’s clean energy sector have been attracted by the rising demand for renewable power in other states, as Rajasthan possesses the highest solar potential in the country. As of July 2023, Rajasthan’s solar and wind capacity reached 23 GW, making up 20% of India’s total capacity. This expansion has solidified Rajasthan’s position as a key supplier of clean electricity in India.
Despite Rajasthan’s progress, fossil fuel generation capacity, including coal and gas, has remained unchanged since 2022. As a nation, India still heavily relies on fossil fuels, with over 70% of its electricity sourced from these non-renewable resources in 2023. Ember’s Data Analyst, Uni Lee, emphasizes the importance of tripling global renewable capacity by 2030 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. India has committed to this goal as part of the G20 countries and the impressive growth of renewables in Rajasthan serves as an example of India’s potential to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil generation capacity.
Sources:
– Ember (global energy think tank) – Data Analysis by Uni Lee.