Syllabus- Energy Resources: Energy demands, Indian energy scenario- hydel, thermal and nuclear. Importance of renewable resources – Solar, Wind, small/Mini/Micro hydel, Biomass, waste based, geothermal, tidal & fuel cells. Energy security – Role of Science & Technology, Bio-fuel cultivation and extraction.
Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10
Mains Questions of the day-
1.Recently, India has received proposals for setting up 10 GW of solar equipment manufacturing capacity. Discuss the need for Solar manufacturing units in India?
Introduction:
Write the significance of solar energy and the need for solar manufacturing.
Body:
Write briefly about present status of solar manufacturing units in India.
Mention the need for Solar manufacturing units in India and related challenges associated to it.
Conclusion:
Some measures needed to overcome the challenges associated to Solar Manufacturing Units in India:
- Developing an Ecosystem: Indian government must focus on creating manufacturing clusters throughout the country similar to solar parks, with the availability of the entire supply chain, research and development (R&D) centers, equipment manufacturing, universities, and laboratories.
- Comprehensive solar manufacturing policy: It is needed which clearly mention about robust supply networks, lower cost supply agreements, subsidies on cost of power, financing and capex, incentives for R&D etc.
- Costs competitiveness: Solar manufacturing has to deal with significant costs related to setting up assembly lines, land acquisition, labour needs, taxes, power costs and other working capital requirements. Hence, government needs to incentivize companies to boost or set up new solar component manufacturing capacity.
- Manufacturing excellence: India should deal with manufacturing excellence to build and continuously innovate the cutting-edge manufacturing mindset as opposed to build and forget approach.
Content:
Present capacity of solar manufacturing:
- India’s renewable energy generation capacity is the fourth largest in the world (currently 136 GW which is 36% of total capacity).
- It is growing at the fastest speed among all major countries.
- The current capacity of solar cell manufacturing in India is about 2,500 MW.
- In case of solar modules as well 7000 MW of capacity is being added in addition to existing capacity.
- The nation has around 9 GW of annual solar module manufacturing capacity and around 3 GW of annual solar cell production capacity.
- A solar cell is the basic building block of a solar module.
Need of developing Solar manufacturing capacity:
- Harvest potential and Self-reliant: India need to fully use its solar power potential, this is not possible unless making India self-sufficient in the manufacture of solar cells and modules, batteries and ancillary equipment.
- To curb import dependency: Currently, 80% of solar cells and modules used in India are imported from China and comprise $2.16 billion of imports in 2018-19.
- Meet domestic demand: India’s solar manufacturing capacity is insufficient, under-utilised and unviable, as out of 2.5 GW demand in 2020 only 15% was met through domestic manufacturing.
- To achieve INDC targets: India’s current solar power installed capacity is 35.73 GW. Hence, domestic manufacturing is needed to achieve set target of 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022, which includes 100 GW from solar power generation.
Challenges faced by solar manufacturing in India
- Lack of Investment: Firstly, to achieve the 100 GW target, India needs to invest $65 billion in the next four years, but major part investment is raised within the country and there is less investment from foreign direct investment (FDI).
- Technology and R&D: India in comparison to China does not bring latest (next generation) technology at a competitive price, which hampers development of solar manufacturing in India.
- High cost: Indian solar cells are, on average, 20- 30% more expensive than cells manufactured in China. Hence, manufacturers tend to choose affordable equipment through import from China.
- Quality control issues: Some companies have voiced their concerns about the quality of Indian made cells and reported some manufacturers falsely label their 380 Wp (capacity of a solar in watt peak) cells as 400 Wp because there are no government entities to ensure the quality of these cells.
- Policy issues: Only those models and manufacturers that are included in the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) for solar PV cells and modules will be eligible to participate in projects under government programs.
- Challenge at the World Trade Organisation (WTO): US has challenged India’s solar energy policy before the World Trade Organisation (WTO), on the line of domestic sourcing of solar panels, which was upheld by WTO.
2.Private investors, Coal India Limited, Government exploring ways to make coal mining more profitable. Discuss the issues related to Commercialisation of coal.
Introduction:
Write briefly about present status of coal mining regime in India.
Body:
Mention the advantage and hurdles related to new Coal mine regime in India.
Conclusion:
Implement the measures that are suggested below.
Content:
New commercial coal mining:
Key features of new regime:
- No previous mining experience is required for participating in bidding.
- 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) through automatic rule is allowed for coal mining.
- The revenue sharing will be on an ad valorem (the value of the transaction) basis and not on the basis of a fixed amount.
- The present bidding terms also allow other minerals to be extracted from these blocks.
- The Ministry of coal will help the private sector in getting statutory approvals like environment and other approvals.
Benefits from commercial coal mining
- Reducing India’s dependence on import: India meets a fifth of its annual requirement of coal through imports which costs about Rs 1 lakh crore. Commercial coal mining can cut the import bill by Rs 30,000 crore.
- Modernizing the coal sector: The expectation is that the new mining majors will set new benchmarks in terms of mechanization, automation, mining practices, etc. Thus, the new regime will spur improvements across the industry.
- Enhancing productivity of the coal sector: By ending the monopoly of Coal India Limited and bringing in competition. Also, earlier captive coal mining entities had no incentive to enhance their production beyond their own needs.
- Meeting the demand: To meet its growth requirements and become self-sufficient, India need to expand its production to 1,500 million tonnes per year.
- Revenue for the State: In captive coal mining companies were not required to pay royalty to states as mined coal was meant for their own end use. But mines auctioned under new norms will generate total revenues of around Rs 7,000 crore per annum.
- Development of aspirational districts: Most of the mines auctioned under new norms are in aspirational districts. These mines would create more than 69,000 jobs once they are operationalised. Central Government will also spend money in creating infrastructure in these regions that means additional job and economic opportunity to such districts.
Hurdles in India’s new commercial coal regime
- Opposition from state governments that may ensue legal battles: Jharkhand government has challenged the auctions under the new regime arguing that it stands to lose vital forest cover, its tribal communities will be displaced, and yet it hasn’t been consulted.
- Purported shallow competition which may keep bid prices low: This is due to a smaller number of bidders as the auctions are held in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, no foreign firm has placed a bid as there is declining trend in corporate and financial interest in coal due to rising concerns over its environmental and social fallouts.
- Eligibility criteria are broad enough to encourage non-serious bidding: Non serious bidders may use coal mines as assets to leverage in the market, without any intention of actually mining them as happened during the 2000s.
- Deep pockets and risk management capabilities are needed for beginning the production: After winning a coal auction state and mining permits are required, rehabilitation and resettlement needs to be managed. Very few firms in India today have the financial and risk management capabilities to go through all of this.
Further steps required to make the new commercial coal regime a success
- Addressing the concerns of the state regarding their declining revenue share: There are massive community and environmental externalities of coal mining borne by states harbouring these mines. Under new regime states would lose an estimated Rs. 48 to Rs. 115 per tonne.Therefore, improving the design of auction is needed to address the revenue concern of States. Efforts like National Coal Index (NCI) could be initiated for transparency in revenue.
- Enact ‘Sustainable Coal Mining Code’ for removing the overlapping jurisdictions of multiple bodies: The code should consolidate all statutory provisions governing opening/closing and environment/forest matters related to coal mines. It should also establish an independent, multi-disciplinary unified authority for ensuring compliance with various clearance and regulatory requirements.
- Indicating the recoverable reserves instead of geological reserves would attract more bidders: At present the offer document for coal blocks indicate Geological reserves. This is a quasi-scientific estimation of the reserves in a block which may or may not be extractable by employing usual technologies.
- Technological upgradation for making coal mining environmentally sustainable: Replacing blasting technology with cutting technologies for producing coal, introduction of ‘in-pit’ crushing, adoption of pipe belt conveyors for transportation of coal to silos or railway sidings and transition to Pan-India use of only washed coal will help the sector.
- Incentives should be offered to bidders for adopting the state-of- the- art mining technologies. This would ensure the infusion of new generation technology in the coal mining sector.
Prelims questions of the day:
1.Which of the following organisation is responsible for release of World Energy Investment Report?
- Food and Agricultural Organisation(FAO)
- International Energy Agency (IEA)
- OCED
- World Bank
Answer: B
Explanation:
World Energy Investment Report 2021
- Released by- International Energy Agency (IEA).
- In 2021, annual global energy investment is set to rise to USD 1.9 trillion, rebounding nearly 10% from 2020.
- Renewables to dominate investment in new power generation and expected to account for 70% of 2021’s total of USD 530 billion spent on all new generation capacity.
- Upstream investment in oil and gas is expected to grow 10 percent.
- Global emission is set to grow by 1.5 billion tones.
2.In which of the following state, Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant is established?
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Tamil nadu
- Telangana
Answer: C
Explanation:
Gobar-Dhan (BioCNG) Plant:
- Recently, the PM inaugurated Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant the GOBAR DHAN plant in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Government is working to build such plants in 75 major municipal bodies in the next 2 years.
- Municipal solid waste based Gobar-Dhan plant is in line with “garbage-free cities” under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0.
- Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme focuses on managing and converting cattle dung and solid waste in farms to compost, biogas and bio-CNG.
- It was launched by Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation (Now Ministry of Jal Shakti) in 2018 as part of the SBM (Gramin).
3.Which of the following statement is not correct regarding the Mission Integrated Bio-refineries?
- Material Acceleration Platforms (MAP) set up by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under this mission
- MAP will leverage emerging capabilities in next-generation computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and robotics.
- It is under PPP (Public Private Participation)
- This is the fifth Mission launched by Mission Innovation
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Recently, the Union Minister of State Science & Technology launched a major futuristic PPP (Public Private Participation) mode initiative for ‘Clean Energy’ with the full launch of “Mission Integrated Bio-refineries”.
- Material Acceleration Platforms (MAP) set up by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) were also launched which will leverage emerging capabilities in next-generation computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and robotics to accelerate the pace of materials discovery up to 10 times faster.
Mission Integrated Bio-refineries:
- Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport and chemicals sectors already account for nearly one-third of global emissions with transport responsible for already one-fourth of them, and are projected to increase by 2050, in particular from transport.
- Therefore, there is a need for low-carbon and renewable alternatives to fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as, long-haul transportation, and industry.
- Develop and demonstrate innovative solutions to accelerate the commercialization of integrated biorefineries, with a target of replacing 10% of fossil-based fuels, chemicals and materials with bio-based alternatives by 2030.
- The Mission is Co-led by India and the Netherlands. Also involved are Brazil and Canada as core members, and the European Commission and the United Kingdom as supporting members.
- This is the sixth Mission launched by Mission Innovation, and joins initiatives focused on clean hydrogen, green power systems, net zero shipping, carbon dioxide removal and urban transitions.
- It will advance sustainable biorefining pathways and technologies to support the development and commercialization of bio-based fuels, chemicals and materials, by also considering process energy demands.
- This will support de-risking new and emerging technology, while improving the cost-competitiveness of bio-based alternatives, notably biofuels.
- The Mission unites a dynamic and results-oriented partnership of countries, international organisations, the corporate sector, academic institutions and civil society to accelerate innovation for renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials for a low- carbon future.
4.Which of the organisation is responsible for release of Renewables Integration in India?
- NITI AAYOG
- NABARD
- FSSAI
- FCI
Answer: A
Explanation:
Renewables Integration in India 2021:
- Released by: NITI Aayog and International Energy Agency (IEA)
- India is the third largest energy-consuming country in the world.
- Per-capita electricity consumption is still around a third of the world average, and is expected to continue increasing despite the government’s intention to pursue strong energy efficiency standards, including LED lighting, efficient cooling and building standards.
- Majority of India’s renewable capacity additions take the form of solar and wind.
- Renewable energy penetration is highly variable by state in India.
5.Under National Policy of Biofuels which of the following material is used for first generation Biofuels?
- Sugar
- Waste such as husk, stems, wood chips etc.
- Algae
- Genetically engineered Crops
Answer: A
Explanation:
- The “National Policy on Biofuels was notified by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2018.
- The policy was notified in supersession of the National Policy on Biofuels, promulgated through the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, in 2009.
Categories of Biofuels
- First generation biofuels:
- These are made from food sources such as sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal fats using conventional technology.
- Common first-generation biofuels include Bioalcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil, Bioethers, Biogas.
- Though the process of conversion is easy, but use of food sources in the production of biofuels creates an imbalance in food economy, leading to increased food prices and hunger.
- Second generation biofuels:
- These are produced from non-food crops or portions of food crops that are not edible and considered as wastes, e.g. stems, husks, wood chips, and fruit skins and peeling.
- Thermochemical reactions or biochemical conversion process is used for producing such fuels.
- Examples include cellulose ethanol, biodiesel.
- Though these fuels do not affect food economy, their production is quite complicated.
- Also, it is reported that these biofuels emit less greenhouse gases when compared to first generation biofuels.
- Third generation biofuels:
- These are produced from micro-organisms like algae.
- Example- Butanol
- Micro-organisms like algae can be grown using land and water unsuitable for food production, therefore reducing the strain on already depleted water sources.
- One disadvantage is that fertilizers used in the production of such crops lead to environment pollution.
- Fourth Generation Biofuels:
- In the production of these fuels, crops that are genetically engineered to take in high amounts of carbon are grown and harvested as biomass.
- The crops are then converted into fuel using second generation techniques.
- The fuel is pre-combusted and the carbon is captured. Then the carbon is geo-sequestered, meaning that the carbon is stored in depleted oil or gas fields or in unmineable coal seams.
- Some of these fuels are considered as carbon negative as their production pulls out carbon from environment.
6.International Fund for Agricultural Development comes under which of the following international organization?
- FAO
- United Nations
- OECD
- International Atomic Energy Agency
Answer: B
Explanation:
Transforming Food Systems for Rural Prosperity:
- Released by- International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Report analyses the issues arising in different segments of the food system (consumption, production and midstream) in relation to the lives of poor rural people.
About IFAD:
- It is an international financial institution and specialized United Nations agency.
- Headquarters- Rome, Italy.
- It has 177 Member States comprised of developing, middle and high-income countries from all regions of the world who are dedicated to eradicating poverty in rural areas.
- India is a member state.
- Membership in IFAD is open to any State that is a member of the United Nations, any of its specialized agencies or the International Atomic Energy Agency.
7.Which of the following ministry is responsible for implementation of Ethanol blending program?
- Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG)
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Answer: A
Explanation:
Ethanol Blending Target:
- The level of ethanol blending in petrol in India has reached 9.99%.
- Instead of 2030, the Centre plans to move ahead with its ethanol blending target of 20% of petrol containing ethanol by 2025-26.
- It will promote the production of biofuels in the country, under the Make in India program, by units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZ)/ Export Oriented Units (EoUs).
Ethanol Blending:
- Ethanol: It is one of the principal biofuels, which is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.
- Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP): It is aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on crude oil imports, cutting carbon emissions and boosting farmers’ incomes.
8.Which of the following program launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)?
- Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO)
- GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN scheme
- Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme
- Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana
Answer: A
Explanation:
Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO):
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had launched RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil), an initiative that will enable collection and conversion of used cooking oil to bio-diesel.
- Under this initiative, 64 companies at 101 locations have been identified to enable collection of used cooking oil. For instance: McDonald’s has already started converting used cooking oil to biodiesel from 100 outlets in Mumbai and Pune.
- FSSAI wants businesses using more than 100 litres of oil for frying, to maintain a stock register and ensure that UCO is handed over to only registered collecting agencies.
Total Polar Compounds (TPC):
- In many countries, TPC is used to measure the quality of oil.
- The level of TPC increases every time oil is re-heated.
- Some of the studies show that TPC accumulation in oil without food is slower than that in oil frying with food.
- Higher level of TPC in cooking oil leads to health issues like hypertension, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and liver disease.
- One of the studies also noticed high levels of glucose, creatinine and cholesterol with declined levels of protein and albumin in cooking oil.
9.Which of the following organisation is responsible for development of State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI)?
- NITI Aayog
- NABARD
- Bureau of Energy Efificiency(BEE)
- Department of Biotechnology
Answer: C
Explanation:
State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) -2020
- Developed jointly by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE).
- It was first launched in 2018.
- It assesses the performance of the 36 states and UTs in energy efficiency using 68 qualitative, quantitative, and outcome-based indicators, across six sectors, namely, Buildings, Industry, Municipalities, Transport, Agriculture & DISCOMs and Cross Sector.
- Indicators assess states’ performance in Policy and Regulation, Financing Mechanisms, Institutional Capacity, Adoption of Energy Efficiency Measures, and Energy Savings.
- Based on their efforts and achievements, states have been classified as ‘Front runner’, ‘Achiever’, ‘Contender’ and ‘Aspirant’.
10.Which of the following Ministry is responsible for administering the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)?
- Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG)
- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Answer: C
Explanation:
About FSSAI:
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.
- It was created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the Administrative Ministry for the implementation of FSSAI.
- Composition: The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) are appointed by Government of India. The Chairperson is in the rank of Secretary to Government of India.