In a groundbreaking development, Rajasthan has witnessed a significant reduction in its reliance on fossil fuels, marking a historic milestone in the state’s energy landscape. Data recently released by the global energy think-tank Ember reveals that from April to July, the share of fossil fuels in Rajasthan’s energy mix plummeted to an unprecedented low of just 50 percent. This remarkable achievement represents the first time such low levels of fossil fuel usage have been sustained for a quarter of the year.
During the period spanning from January to July, fossil fuels contributed to the production of 34 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, demonstrating a stagnation with a negligible -1.6 percent growth compared to the same timeframe in 2022.
In stark contrast, solar and wind power generation experienced a remarkable 28 percent year-on-year surge, generating a cumulative 27 TWh of electricity in the first half of 2023. This achievement is all the more impressive when considering that just two years ago, solar and wind power accounted for less than half of their current output. When combined with other clean energy sources like nuclear, hydro, and bio-energy, the total clean power generation capacity in Rajasthan now equals that of fossil fuel generation.
Rajasthan’s substantial growth in renewable energy can be attributed to its proactive measures, including the implementation of the Solar Energy Policy and Wind Hybrid Energy Policy. Additionally, the increasing demand for clean energy from neighboring regions, notably Delhi, has attracted substantial investments in Rajasthan, which boasts the highest solar potential in the country.
From January to July, Rajasthan successfully added an impressive 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity and 0.5 GW of wind capacity. As of July, the state’s combined solar and wind capacity reached a staggering 23 GW, constituting a substantial 20 percent of India’s total solar and wind capacity. This expansion has solidified Rajasthan’s position as a prominent supplier of clean electricity nationwide. Meanwhile, fossil fuel generation capacity, particularly coal and gas, remained stagnant since 2022.
On a national scale, India continued to heavily rely on fossil fuels, accounting for over 70 percent of its electricity generation throughout 2023 up to July, maintaining consistency with its energy mix in the previous year.
Ember’s Data Analyst Uni Lee emphasized the necessity to triple renewable capacity worldwide by 2030 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The G20 countries, under India’s presidency, have committed to this ambitious goal. The extraordinary growth of renewables in Rajasthan serves as a shining example of this potential. India stands poised to lead the way, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil generation capacity.
This remarkable achievement in Rajasthan not only heralds a cleaner and more sustainable future for the state but also sets a precedent for the global transition toward renewable energy sources.
By PTI
