Why in news: Enunciating his energy roadmap, PM Modi said the share of natural gas in India's energy basket will be more than doubled, and the nation will be connected with one gas pipeline grid to help bring affordable fuel to people and industry.

Why there is a need for energy diversification in India?

• Energy security: India is largely dependent on fossil fuel imports to meet its energy demands – by 2030, India's dependence on energy imports is expected to exceed 53% of the country's total energy consumption. These imports are subjected to erratic price fluctuations, which in turn affects our energy supply and economy. Thus, diversifying our energy basket offers security of energy supply and reduces dependence on imported sources.

• Environmental sustainability: India’s energy profile continues to be heavily dominated by fossil fuel–based sources: by 2040, 42% of the new demand will be met by coal, and the country is projected to be among the largest oil consumers. This fossil-based power generation is responsible for half of India's CO2 emissions. Hence, diversifying our energy profile with clean energy sources like renewables, nuclear etc. becomes a pre-requisite for environmental sustainability, particularly in this era of climate change.
• Growing price competitiveness: Energy alternatives such as gas, fossil fuels etc. collectively pose a risk for power plant operators, along with end users, with their price volatility. But the renewable energy sector has witnessed tremendous advancement in the whole value chain, especially the technology leap enabled by innovation. This, coupled with the government’s backup for the startup segment, more and more new projects could be planted across the geography to reach a point where India’s need for energy can be satiated using renewable energy sources.
• India is better placed for energy diversification: With various factors giving the renewable energy segment a push, India now has a great opportunity ahead to shape its energy mix. Contributing factors like supportive government policies, coupled with incentives and infrastructure and investment promotions are being taken, to serve the social and economic growth of the country through renewable energies. Consequently, renewable energy sector is also becoming more attractive to power utilities constructing new long-term capacity projects.
• Sustainable development: Overdependence on fossil fuels for our energy needs hampers our development due to depletion of non-renewable resources, deterioration of the environment, which is in line with the Limits to Growth model. Opting for renewables in our energy mix paves way for sustainable development due to their low environmental impact, wider availability and naturally replenishable nature. SDG 7 calls for ensuring access to affordable and clean energy for all, which again highlights for the need to diversify our energy mix.

Energy diversification in India- Prospects:

• Solar energy: India has the 5th largest installed capacity of solar power in the world. As of 2021, India has an installed solar capacity of 40 GW which is very low when compared with the target of 100 GW by 2022. India has been very active on the solar front through initiatives such as International Solar Alliance (ISA), National Solar Mission, Mega solar parks, PM-KUSUM, Atal Jyothi Yojana (AJAY) and Suryamitra program etc.
• Wind energy: Globally, India is at 4th position in terms of installed wind power capacity after China, USA and Germany. As of 2020, the total wind installed wind power capacity was 38 GW. Government set an ambitious target of 175 GW power capacity from clean renewable energy resources by 2022. Out of this, 60 GW target is set for wind power. In this regard, Government of India has taken initiatives such as National wind-solar hybrid policy, National offshore wind energy policy, Wind bidding scheme
• Geo-thermal energy: GSI has identified and mapped over 350 geothermal regions across the length and breadth of the country, from which around 10 GW of geothermal energy can be harnessed. Due to its clean and reliable nature, it can play a crucial role in achieving energy diversification and energy security.
• Hydro power: India is blessed with immense amount of hydro-electric potential and ranks 5th in terms of exploitable hydro-potential on global scenario. India is currently generating 45GW from hydropower, which is only 31% of the total potential. GoI launched a new policy on hydro power development to undertake measures for the exploitation of vast hydro power potential in the country especially in north and NE regions.
• Nuclear energy: Despite having Uranium and vast untapped thorium reserves, Nuclear power contributes only a little over 2% of our total power generation. In 2019, Department of Atomic Energy announced for 21 new nuclear plants with a total generating capacity of 15.7 GW by 2031.
• Hydrogen based energy: Government of India has launched National Hydrogen Mission in 2021 to create a share of hydrogen based energy of 6% in our total energy mix by 2050. In, October 2020, Delhi became the first Indian city to operate buses running on H-CNG in a six month pilot project.
• Ocean energy: With India having a huge 7,500 KMs of coast line, ocean energy (Tidal, Wave & OTEC) can be a game changer in achieving our objectives of energy diversification and energy security & our INDCs under Paris agreement. In 2019**,** the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has declared Ocean Energy as renewable energy which makes them eligible for meeting the non-solar Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO), in a bid to promote the development of ocean energy in India.
• Biomass based energy: India has high potential of biomass about 500 metric tons per year availability. As per MNRE around 17,500 MW power can be generated by this available biomass and additional power about 5000 MW can be produce by surplus available biomass which is around 120–150 MT.

Energy security is a key driver of economic growth. Also, SDG 7 i.e. affordable and clean energy is linked to all other SDGs in several ways. With the growing concerns of global warming by fossil fuels, adopting to renewables not only help in diversification of our energy basket and achieving energy security, but also paves way for sustainable development.

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