India’s Energy Demand to Double By 2032, Renewable Energy is Key: Pralhad Joshi

The Regional Workshop on Renewable Energy, organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in Jaipur, showcased India’s ambitious renewable energy goals and strategies for sustainable growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, emphasised the critical role of renewable energy in addressing India’s doubling energy demand by 2032 as the nation transitions to the 3rd largest global economy. He stressed the inextricable link between energy availability and economic growth, noting that infrastructure and service sectors will rely heavily on a consistent and reliable supply of energy.

Joshi also underlined the importance of carbon credits and taxes in driving renewable energy adoption, highlighting India's commitment to clean energy with the launch of the world's largest bid in the green hydrogen and ammonia sectors. He reflected on the recent success of RE Invest 2024, which saw commitments worth INR 32 lakh crore for renewable energy projects, marking significant private sector confidence.

Acknowledging the role of government schemes like PM Surya Ghar and PM KUSUM, Joshi emphasised their success in decentralising solar power generation, alleviating financial pressure on state governments, and promoting local adoption of solar energy. On energy security, he noted the vast improvements over the past decade, especially in Northern India, where power shortages were once common.

Rajasthan’s Chief Minister, BhajanLal Sharma, shared the State’s ambitious renewable energy plans, announcing MoUs worth INR 26 lakh crore and a target of 125 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Sharma reaffirmed Rajasthan’s commitment to the Panchamrit Yojana’s goals, including achieving 50 percent energy from non-fossil sources by 2030 with the long-term aim of net-zero emissions by 2070.

Minister of State (New and Renewable Energy) Shripad Yesso Naik also addressed the gathering, highlighting India’s progress towards achieving 45 percent energy from non-fossil sources, with a target of 500 GW by 2030, scaling up to 1,800 GW by 2047. He also stressed the importance of initiatives like PM Surya Ghar and PM KUSUM in empowering women and developing skills in the renewable energy sector, ensuring the long-term success of India’s energy transition.