Can Modi 3.0 deliver on its climate goals?

With his renewed mandate, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has much to achieve in his third term.

This includes moving India into a “green era” with an aim of 500 GW of non-fossil energy by 2030.

Coal is still dominant, constituting 75 per centof India’s electricity generation.

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Nonetheless, despite adding over 100 GW of renewable capacity in the past decade, India has a high increase in electricity demand that strains the ageing power grid.

India plans to add new coal projects estimated at 90 GW by 2032 to meet these demands.

A total investment of $29 billion towards infrastructure is needed, the majority being on new transmission lines.

Additionally, the relevance of such projects is affected by the fragile financial condition of distribution companies, which affects the quality and stable supply conditions for energy.

Smart metering aims to improve grid profitability under a massive INR3 lakh crore project ($42 bn).

The present strategy focuses on coal expansion, which may not be cost-effective or dependable in the long run.

However, there can be a move towards a more distributed green economy with a potentially more fragmented coalition government.

Such a move could create regional growth and distribute benefits from clean energy investments.

This transition could boost economic chances in less-privileged areas when it couples green policies with local development objectives.

As a result of global climate change, including increased temperatures and droughts, the incorporation of renewable energy and storage solutions offers a way forward.