Unit-6 : ENERGY & RESOURCES
Short Notes or Revision Notes
GIST of India Year Book 2024
Environment Related Concepts
- Biosafety:Safe handling practices for biological materials, especially infectious agents.
- Green Credits Programme (Oct 2023):Creates market incentives for environment-positive actions beyond just carbon emission reduction. (Environment Ministry)
- Desertification:Degradation of dryland ecosystems due to climate variations and human activities.
- Biodiversity Hotspots:Regions with high species richness and endemism.
- Biosphere Reserves:Protected areas for preserving flora and fauna.
- Minamata Convention on Mercury:Aims to protect health and environment from mercury’s adverse effects.
- Ramsar Convention (Wetlands):Intergovernmental treaty for conserving and wisely using wetlands and their resources.
Chapter-22 : Energy
Transformation of Indian Power Sector (2012-2023)
From Deficit to Surplus:
- Energy deficit of 4.2% in 2012.
- Over 175 GW capacity added since 2014, leading to power surplus.
- National grid connectivity with extensive transmission lines (173,459 ckt km).
Strengthened Distribution & Rural Electrification:
- Schemes like DDUGJY, IPDS, and Saubhagya Yojana improved distribution and access.
- Increased power availability, especially in rural areas.
Clean Energy Transition:
- India ahead of schedule in adopting non-fossil fuel sources.
- Commitment to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels by 2030.
- Power generation capacity increased by 71% (2014-Sept 2023).
- Renewable energy targets:
- 777 GW installed capacity by 2029-30 (62.43% non-fossil).
- 900 GW by 2031-32 (66.22% non-fossil).
- India ranks 4th globally in renewable energy capacity:
- 4th in wind power.
- 5th in solar power.
- Fastest growing renewable energy sector among major economies (2.34x increase since 2014).
Focus on North Eastern Region (NER):
- Government schemes for improved power transmission and distribution.
- Intra-state projects for reliable state power grids.
- DDUGJY for rural infrastructure strengthening and metering.
Other Key Initiatives:
- Saubhagya Scheme: Universal household electrification (solar included).
- UDAY Scheme: Improves financial health of power distribution companies (DISCOMs).
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- PM KUSUM Scheme: Provides energy security to consumers.
- Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge) Rules: Ensures timely payments to power generators.
- SAMARTH Mission: Promotes use of agri-residue in thermal power plants.
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG)
Key Initiatives:
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY):Provides LPG connections to BPL households (expanded by Ujjwala 2.0).
- PAHAL:DBT scheme for LPG subsidies (largest in Guinness Book).
- Make in India:Promotes domestic participation in the oil and gas sector.
- Sahaj:Digital initiative for online LPG connection release.
- Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package:Offered free LPG cylinders during Covid.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’s Lakshya Bharat Portal:Promotes local sourcing in oil and gas.
- Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga Project:Develops the national gas grid.
- City Gas Distribution Network:Supplies CNG, PNG, and industrial gas (regulated by PNGRB).
India’s Energy Diplomacy
- Focuses on diversifying import sources and strategic partnerships.
- Renegotiates LNG contracts and seeks responsible pricing.
- Key suppliers: Saudi Arabia, UAE.
- Reduces import reliance through initiatives like:
- Ethanol Blending Programme:Aims for 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025.
- Engages with international organizations (OPEC, IEA) and has Strategic Petroleum Reserves.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)
- Renewable Energy Capacity:73 GW by July 2023.
- Schemes:
- Solar PV modules incentives.
- National Green Hydrogen Mission.
- PM-KUSUM.
- Solar Parks Scheme.
- Focus Areas:
- Wind power.
- Rooftop solar.
- Green Energy Corridor (grid integration).
- Bio-energy Schemes:
- Waste-to-energy.
- Biomass power.
- Biogas projects.
- Cumulative Installed Capacity (as of July 2023):
- Biomass power: 9.43 GW (Bagasse & IPP), 0.81 GW (Non-Bagasse).
- Waste-to-energy: 0.57 GW (grid-connected & off-grid).
- Rural Biogas Schemes:Disseminates biogas plants in remote areas.
- Human Resource Development:Training programs, fellowships, and internships for the renewable energy sector.
Ministry of Coal (MoC)
- Oversees coal and lignite exploration and development.
- Public sector undertakings:
- Coal India Limited (CIL).
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC).
- Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).
- Coal Reserves:12 billion tonnes (Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh).
- Lignite Reserves:20 billion tonnes (Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan).
- Coal Production:
- Highest ever: 893.19 million tonnes (prov.) in 2022-23.
- 02 million tonnes (upto August 2023).
- Target for 2023-24: 1,012.14 million tonnes.