RE integrated power grid is critical to achieving Net-Zero targets

The Indian grid power system is divided into five regional grids for planning and operational purposes. We currently have a total interregional transmission capacity of around 112,000 MW, and by 2022, that capacity is predicted to increase by 218,000 MW. To achieve our ambitious goal of having 1000 MW of solar capacity by 2022, the government connected the southern region to the central grid in a synchronous mode in 2013 while also commissioning the appropriate solar power transmission line. We have an excellent corridor for connecting solar parks and other areas to the grid. Additionally, we intend to have an interstate and intrastate transmission scheme with a 72,000 cKm transmission line and a 28,000 cKm capacity for transmission transformers.
Current installed capacity
Our current installed capacity is roughly 410 GW, with 175 GW of renewable energy, including significant hydro and a very minor fraction of nuclear, but to fulfil 2030 ambitions and long-term non-fossil fuel targets, we need 500 GW from renewable energy sources, which means we must double our installed capacity to 1000 GW and become one of the world’s largest grids. This will add at least 500 GW of renewable energy to the mix, enough to fulfil nearly half of our energy needs by 2030. This transformation will continue as we seek to increase renewable energy integration and reduce the economy’s carbon intensity by 45 percent.
Integrating renewable energy into the grid
Today, it is vital to comprehend the relationship between a country’s development level and its energy use. Countries with the highest per capita energy usage have eight or more points on the UN’s Human Development Index. On the other side, countries such as India, Nepal, and several African countries, among others, have per capita energy consumption levels of 5–6 points. We must also consider the amount of energy wasted in the country with the highest per capita energy consumption. Here, the most used energy resources are fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, as well as renewable energy or clean energy.
So, the energy utilisation coming from fossil fuels resulted in increasing GHG and CO2 emissions. We are producing a lot of CO2 , which is also known as a greenhouse gas. We must reduce per capita energy consumption to 1.5-2, which will also reduce carbon footprints. And because fossil fuels are one of the key reasons to accelerate carbon emissions, we need to stop them.
Several countries, including India, have recently announced net-zero energy targets for the years 2050 to 2070. This means that you will continue to emit CO2 , but with a mechanism in place to absorb that CO2 . This can be done either through afforestation, carbon capture, or technologies to reduce emissions by replacing conventional fossil fuels with renewable ones. It will someday bring our carbon capture levels to zero.
Right now, we need to relook at our 2030 targets and evaluate our present position. To achieve 2030 targets, we need to execute plans for an efficient and effective transition to renewable energy.
Key drivers for an energy transition
The pollution emitted by fossil fuels, as well as the economic burden imposed by fossil fuel imports, are the drivers behind this energy transition. Therefore, we must discover strategies to attain energy independence. However, the current Russia-Ukraine war and other socioeconomic factors have resulted in an energy crisis, which should not be used to undervalue our growth graph. As a result, shifting to renewable energy sources is critical.