Conventional energy sources remain indispensable despite the rapid growth of renewable energy in India. Analyse the reasons and examine the challenges in transitioning to a renewab

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Conventional energy sources remain indispensable despite the rapid growth of renewable energy in India. Analyse the reasons and examine the challenges in transitioning to a renewable-dominant energy mix.

Analyze

  • 10 marks
  • 8 min
  • 150 words
  • Medium

The Hindu

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Energy Transition in India: Context

  • Despite rapid renewable expansion, conventional sources (coal ~65–70% of peak demand) remain central due to reliability and dispatchability constraints.

Reasons for Continued Indispensability

  • Baseload & Grid Stability Thermal power provides firm, round-the-clock supply, unlike intermittent solar/wind (CEA data: ~256 GW peak demand).
  • Intermittency & Duck Curve Solar contributes ~30% installed capacity but lower peak share (~20–22%), due to daytime concentration and evening deficits.
  • Storage Deficit Limited Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) restrict shifting of surplus renewable energy to peak hours (NITI Aayog storage roadmap).
  • Energy Security Domestic coal availability (~200 MT stocks) ensures short-term resilience against global shocks.

Challenges in Transitioning to Renewable-Dominant Mix

  • Grid & Transmission Constraints Inadequate transmission leads to curtailment and under-utilisation of RE, weakening investor confidence.
  • Peak Demand Mismatch Evening/night demand cannot be met by solar, creating structural dependence on thermal backup.
  • Financial & Policy Barriers High upfront costs of storage, petroleum exclusion from GST, and DISCOM stress hinder transition (Kelkar Committee on GST).
  • Technological Gaps Need for flexible grids, smart metering, and hybrid systems to integrate variable RE.
  • Environmental Trade-offs Large-scale RE deployment raises land use and ecological concerns.

Interconnections

  • Curtailment → Lower returns → Slower RE investment → Prolonged coal dependence.
  • Grid instability without storage reinforces the role of thermal power, delaying transition.

Conclusion

  • Conventional energy remains indispensable in the transition phase, not as a long-term solution.
  • A “trinity approach”—renewable expansion + BESS deployment + grid reforms—is essential for a phased, reliable shift to RE dominance, ensuring energy security without disruption.