Latest news with #TERI
Entrepreneur
10 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Decoding India's Energy Future For the Next Decade
India's updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs), submitted in August 2022, commit to reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving 50 per cent cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil sources by the same year Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. India's road to net-zero by 2070 is a colossal undertaking that will fundamentally alter the country's energy architecture. A recent report by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) highlights the scale of the challenge and the pace at which the transformation must unfold. The report estimates that electricity demand could exceed 5,000 terawatt-hours by 2050, potentially peaking at 9,362 TWh—levels comparable to today's European Union. Solar energy, the report says, will form the backbone of this shift. Mohammad Rihan, director general of the National Institute of Solar Energy, underscored the primacy of solar in this shift: "By 2060 we need around 5000 GW, and our climate is suitable for solar. There is no doubt that solar, being the leading source, will also be the dominating source in the grid." Rihan emphasized the importance of thorough potential assessments to address sectoral challenges early and effectively. The transformation is being driven by a convergence of climate goals, rising energy demand, and evolving technologies. India's updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs), submitted in August 2022, commit to reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieving 50 per cent cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil sources by the same year. Meeting these commitments will require not only rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity, but also a complete rethinking of energy systems. "The energy demand is expected to outpace our GDP growth rate in the coming years," said Rahul Raizada, partner - Climate and Energy at PwC India. "To fuel this growth we will need all kinds of energy sources." Raizada noted that renewable energy installations are evolving rapidly, moving beyond standalone solar to more complex configurations like solar-plus-energy storage systems (ESS), round-the-clock (RTC) renewables, and peak power solutions. Despite this progress, Raizada acknowledged a renewed interest in coal-based assets due to the lack of immediate base-load alternatives, with more than 20 GW in tenders already on the table. Green hydrogen is emerging as a critical piece of the puzzle, particularly for decarbonizing heavy industry and long-haul transport. Raizada pointed out that the combined value chains of solar, battery storage, and green hydrogen could attract more than $350 billion in capital investment by 2030. Battery energy storage systems (BESS), projected to reach 236 GWh by 2032, will play a vital role, bolstered by mandates like 4 per cent storage integration by 2030 and capex support schemes. Mukesh Gupta, co-founder of Maxvolt Energy, painted a broad picture of the transformation. He identified several driving trends: an expanding renewable footprint, escalating energy demand, strong policy support, plummeting costs, and the growing importance of storage and decarbonization. "India's energy sector is expected to experience significant growth in the next decade, with a focus on renewable energy and a shift away from fossil fuels," Gupta said. He emphasized that this shift is not just about supply; it's also about systemic evolution from infrastructure upgrades to international cooperation and the scaling of electric mobility. While India's ambitions are clear, the path forward is filled with variables from storage economics and grid integration to policy consistency and private sector execution. The report stresses that the next two decades are not just a transition, but are a complete rebuild. According to Dr. Faruk G. Patel, chairman and MD of KP Group, India's energy transition is not merely promising, it is pivotal. "We are standing at the threshold of an energy revolution that will reshape our economy, environment, and global position," he said. Dr. Patel highlighted decentralization, digitization, and hybridization as defining characteristics of the next decade. From rooftop solar and blockchain-based trading to floating solar and green hydrogen, the coming era will demand innovative integration and inclusive infrastructure development.
Entrepreneur
2 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
India's True Solar Potential Soars to 10,830 GW: Report
A new report has recalibrated the country's theoretical solar capacity at 10,830 gigawatts (GW), nearly 15 times higher than the earlier 748 GW projection made in 2014 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. India's solar energy potential has been vastly underestimated until now. A new macro-level assessment by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has recalibrated the country's theoretical solar capacity at 10,830 gigawatts (GW), nearly 15 times higher than the earlier 748 GW projection made in 2014 by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The findings provide a multidimensional view of India's solar deployment capacity. The report expands far beyond the limited scope of previous assessments, which assumed only 3 per cent of wastelands for solar development. The analysis incorporates a wider spectrum of land-use categories such as – barren and unculturable lands, water bodies for floating solar, rooftops, agri-voltaics, building-integrated photovoltaics, and infrastructure-based solar like railways and highways. At the core of this reassessment is the vast reserve of barren lands, which alone could support 4,909 GW of ground-mounted solar PV capacity. Rajasthan tops this category with 1,234.6 GW, followed by Madhya Pradesh (731.3 GW), Maharashtra (606.7 GW), and Gujarat (592.6 GW). An additional 100 GW could be drawn from floating solar systems over inland reservoirs, ponds, and aquaculture zones. Dr. Faruk G. Patel, chairman & MD of KP Group, has had a front-row seat to this rapid evolution. "A decade ago, solar power was still seen as an expensive alternative. Grid parity was a distant dream," he said. "Today, India has surpassed 100 GW of solar capacity and is well on its path to meet the ambitious target of 280 GW by 2030 and of 500 GW in renewable energy by 2030." Patel also highlighted how tariffs have fallen by over 70 per cent, turning solar into the most affordable source of new energy. KP Group itself has grown from a 1.5 MW plant in 2016 to a ~6 GW portfolio, with its largest 645 MWp project underway in Khavda, Gujarat. Together, rural and urban rooftops could support 960 GW of capacity, with 600 GW in rural areas and 360 GW in urban zones. These figures account for variations in household size, roof area, and shading, offering a more accurate picture of solar potential across diverse environments. Decentralized systems like rooftop solar have been key to this evolution. Rahul Raizada, partner - Climate and Energy at PwC India, notes, "The Indian solar industry has seen fantastic growth from 3.7 GW in FY15 to 106 GW by end of FY25 (~40 per cent CAGR) in the last decade in terms of installed capacity. Clearly the growth has been fuelled by policy initiatives such as VGF, solar park schemes, PM Kusum, PM Surya Ghar Yojana, RPOs and Green Open Access." Raizada identifies three pillars in the sector's rise: utility-scale installations, decentralized solutions like rooftop systems and agri-pumps, and a maturing solar manufacturing ecosystem. "The manufacturing ecosystem development has not only created jobs but also added to the overall GVA in the economy," he adds. Agri-voltaics, an increasingly important category in India's solar blueprint, offers another 4,177 GW of potential. Horticulture areas dominate with 4,059 GW, followed by tea (25 GW) and coffee (93 GW) plantations. The report recommends that agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras lead localized pilot studies to validate real-world feasibility across agro-climatic zones. The scope also includes 684 GW of capacity from infrastructure-based applications, based on 2024 estimates from GIZ. This segment includes installations along railways (79 GW), roads (75 GW), urban surfaces (221 GW), and building-integrated PV systems (309 GW). Mukesh Gupta, co-founder, Maxvolt Energy, lauds the sector's transformation over the last decade. "With a mere 2.8 GW national capacity in 2014 to over 108 GW in present times, this 3,450 per cent increase in capacity is a testament to India's committed approach towards carbon footprint reduction. In 2025, the country ranks fourth in total renewable energy capacity, which was 220.10 GW on March 31, and solar, being the principal contributor, is expected to meet India's 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030."
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
India's solar potential could far exceed previous assessments
A recent study estimates that India's total solar potential could reach 10,830 gigawatts (GW), far exceeding previous assessments and identifies new opportunities across both conventional and innovative applications of solar energy. A reassessment by the Delhi-based The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has unveiled that this potential is nearly 15 times the country's earlier estimated potential of 748 GW. The report titled, 'Reassessment of Solar Potential in India: A Macro-level Study', aims to offer a renewed perspective on the country's solar energy potential. The study identifies untapped solar avenues critical to achieving India's 2070 net-zero goal and advancing its Paris Agreement commitments, according to a TERI press release. These are new opportunities across both conventional and innovative applications of solar energy. The TERI reassessment covers a wide range of categories, including ground-mounted solar photovoltaics (PV) on barren and unculturable land with an estimated potential of 4,909 GW, floating solar PV with 100 GW, rural and urban rooftop solar PV with a combined potential of 960 GW, agri-PV for horticulture crops, coffee, and tea plantations with 4177 GW, the press release adds. As stated in a TERI policy brief, India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) were updated in August 2022, setting the target of reduction of emission intensity by 45% by 2030, over the 2005 level, and achieving about 50% cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil-based energy resources by 2030, and reaching net-zero by 2070. Achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 will require a huge expansion of non-fossil energy sources, with solar energy playing the significant role. TERI's study estimates that the electricity demand will exceed 5000 TWh by 2050. It is well recognised now that solar power will form a major share of the clean energy mix in the country. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India in 2014, estimated India's solar potential at 748 GW, based on considering three per cent of wastelands for calculating solar potential. However, considering the growing demand, the advent of new solar applications, and the limitation posed by the assessed potential, there is a need to revisit the assumption forming the basis of the potential estimation, the TERI policy brief adds. The brief highlights that achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 will require a huge expansion of non-fossil energy sources, with solar energy playing the major role. TERI's study estimates that the electricity demand will exceed 5,000 TWh by 20501. Furthermore, as another TERI discussion paper, 'India's Journey to Net Zero: A Conceptual Framework for Analysis', projects that India's electricity consumption could grow five to six times, eventually peaking at levels comparable to the present levels of consumption in the European Union (EU) – equivalent to a per capita consumption of 6687 kWh or a total consumption of approximately 9362 TWh. This highlights the critical role of solar energy in decarbonizing India's power sector. Beyond this point, electricity consumption is expected to plateau. The reassessment study by TERI revisits the solar potential of conventional areas like barren and unculturable lands and explores additional avenues to increase the country's solar potential estimates. Based on literature review and macro analysis through various assumptions made by the authors, the study re-evaluates the country's solar potential. The categories considered and their estimated solar potential, based on the norm of three acres per MW for ground mounted solar PV on barren and unculturable and floating solar PV. The study finds that ground-mounted solar PV on barren and unculturable lands alone accounts for 4909 GW, with Rajasthan contributing the highest at 1234.6 GW, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 731.3 GW, Maharashtra at 606.7 GW, and Gujarat at 592.6 GW. Floating solar PV systems, using water surfaces of inland reservoirs, tanks, tanks, ponds, and aquaculture zones, are estimated to offer 100 GW of capacity. The TERI report comes at a critical juncture as India accelerates its transition to clean energy in line with its updated NDCs under the Paris Agreement, and its target of net-zero emissions by 2070, the press release says. It adds that by highlighting underutilized and non-traditional solar applications, this report serves as a crucial tool for policymakers, industry leaders, and civil society to support a just and scalable energy transition.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India sitting on 10,830 GW solar reserve—New study reveals massive untapped capacity
NEW DELHI: What if India's next energy revolution doesn't come from deserts alone—but from rooftops, ponds, plantations, railway tracks, and even urban facades? A new reassessment by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has unveiled that India is sitting on a massive solar reservoir of 10,830 GW, nearly 15 times the country's earlier estimated potential of 748 GW. The report, Reassessment of Solar Potential in India: A Macro-Level Study, re-evaluates India's solar deployment capacity across conventional and unconventional land-use categories. The earlier 2014 estimate by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had assumed 3% of wastelands for calculating solar potential. In contrast, the TERI study integrates barren lands, floating solar, rooftop systems, agri-voltaics, building-integrated PV, and infrastructure-based installations like railways and highways to arrive at a more comprehensive solar landscape. Ground-mounted solar PV on barren and unculturable lands alone accounts for 4,909 GW, with Rajasthan contributing the highest at 1,234.6 GW, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 731.3 GW, Maharashtra at 606.7 GW, and Gujarat at 592.6 GW. Floating solar PV systems, using water surfaces of inland reservoirs, tanks, ponds, and aquaculture zones, are estimated to offer 100 GW of capacity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like When the Camera Clicked at the Worst Possible Time Read More The potential for rooftop solar has been revised significantly, with rural and urban systems together contributing 960 GW. TERI's estimate includes 600 GW from rural rooftops and 360 GW from urban areas, based on household size, roof area, and shading assumptions. Agri-voltaics for horticulture, tea, and coffee plantations collectively contribute 4,177 GW to the total solar potential. Of this, horticulture accounts for 4,059 GW, with tea plantations adding 25 GW and coffee areas contributing 93 GW. The report recommends that agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras lead regional pilot studies to determine realisable project opportunities across different agro-climatic zones. Live Events Incorporating GIZ's 2024 estimation for innovative solar applications, TERI's report adds another 684 GW from railway tracks, roads, urban installations, and building-integrated PV. This includes 79 GW from railway infrastructure, 75 GW from roads, 309 GW from building-integrated systems, and 221 GW from other urban surfaces. The reassessment has been undertaken against the backdrop of India's updated Nationally Determined Contributions, which call for a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 over 2005 levels and 50% of cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil energy resources by the same year. India's net-zero target by 2070 further raises the importance of identifying scalable clean energy sources. TERI projects that India's electricity demand will exceed 5,000 TWh by 2050 and could rise to approximately 9,362 TWh—comparable to per capita levels currently seen in the European Union. In such a scenario, solar energy is expected to form the backbone of the non-fossil energy mix. While the total theoretical solar potential is pegged at 10,830 GW, the report notes that realisable capacity will require micro-level assessments using GIS tools, remote sensing, and site-specific filters such as substation proximity, solar insolation, infrastructure access, and climate risk exposure. The study provides a macro-level map to guide future solar energy planning and investment in India.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
India sitting on 10,830 GW solar reserve—New study reveals massive untapped capacity
New Delhi: What if India 's next energy revolution doesn't come from deserts alone—but from rooftops, ponds, plantations, railway tracks, and even urban facades? A new reassessment by The Energy and Resources Institute ( TERI ) has unveiled that India is sitting on a massive solar reservoir of 10,830 GW, nearly 15 times the country's earlier estimated potential of 748 GW. The report, Reassessment of Solar Potential in India: A Macro-Level Study, re-evaluates India's solar deployment capacity across conventional and unconventional land-use categories. The earlier 2014 estimate by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had assumed 3% of wastelands for calculating solar potential. In contrast, the TERI study integrates barren lands, floating solar, rooftop systems, agri-voltaics, building-integrated PV, and infrastructure-based installations like railways and highways to arrive at a more comprehensive solar landscape. Ground-mounted solar PV on barren and unculturable lands alone accounts for 4,909 GW, with Rajasthan contributing the highest at 1,234.6 GW, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 731.3 GW, Maharashtra at 606.7 GW, and Gujarat at 592.6 GW. Floating solar PV systems, using water surfaces of inland reservoirs, tanks, ponds, and aquaculture zones, are estimated to offer 100 GW of capacity. The potential for rooftop solar has been revised significantly, with rural and urban systems together contributing 960 GW. TERI's estimate includes 600 GW from rural rooftops and 360 GW from urban areas, based on household size, roof area, and shading assumptions. Agri-voltaics for horticulture, tea, and coffee plantations collectively contribute 4,177 GW to the total solar potential. Of this, horticulture accounts for 4,059 GW, with tea plantations adding 25 GW and coffee areas contributing 93 GW. The report recommends that agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras lead regional pilot studies to determine realisable project opportunities across different agro-climatic zones. Incorporating GIZ's 2024 estimation for innovative solar applications, TERI's report adds another 684 GW from railway tracks, roads, urban installations, and building-integrated PV. This includes 79 GW from railway infrastructure, 75 GW from roads, 309 GW from building-integrated systems, and 221 GW from other urban surfaces. The reassessment has been undertaken against the backdrop of India's updated Nationally Determined Contributions, which call for a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 over 2005 levels and 50% of cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil energy resources by the same year. India's net-zero target by 2070 further raises the importance of identifying scalable clean energy sources. TERI projects that India's electricity demand will exceed 5,000 TWh by 2050 and could rise to approximately 9,362 TWh—comparable to per capita levels currently seen in the European Union. In such a scenario, solar energy is expected to form the backbone of the non-fossil energy mix. While the total theoretical solar potential is pegged at 10,830 GW, the report notes that realisable capacity will require micro-level assessments using GIS tools, remote sensing, and site-specific filters such as substation proximity, solar insolation, infrastructure access, and climate risk exposure. The study provides a macro-level map to guide future solar energy planning and investment in India.
