Indian electrical industry is on a cusp of solar revolution 

Discussing the trends that are enhancing the demand supply scenario in India’s energy sector, Manas Kundu, Director – Energy Sources, International Copper Association India (ICA India), highlights the critical role of renewable and EVs in shifting towards the Green energy in India. 

How do you look at the present demand-supply trends of power in India? 

India’s energy story in recent times is no less than an extraordinary success, but sustaining the benefits of this success remains to be a key concern. Purely, in terms of availability of power, in recent years, hundreds of millions of Indians gained access to electricity; dedicated programs have helped rapid adoption of highly efficient LED lighting in most households; there is a massive expansion in renewable sources of energy, predominantly led by solar power. No doubt, there has been a tangible improvement claimed in areas of electricity supply to citizens. However, there are quite a few cracks in the graph that need to be fixed if the graph must continue the trajectory

India is a service economy. As compared to other countries in its league, India’s rate of urbanisation has been noteworthy only now. However, the absolute numbers are huge with about 270 million people who will join the urban areas in the next decade. Given this, the rate of energy demand is likely to grow at about three times the global average.

Lack of quality, reliable and safe supply of power is the key concern in rural as well as urban areas. Financially weak power distribution companies, the gaps in the implementation of key regulations and standards, along with low awareness and capability gaps at all levels in the power sector pose challenges to the sustainability of growth in power generation and efficient distribution.

What are the emerging trends in the power & RE sector for energy efficiency? 

In the case of power generation, the next decade is that of Solar. The solar PV market in India is set for an explosive growth. The non-conventional energy sector in India received an FDI of US $10 Bn, between April 2000 and March 2021. As of today, solar accounts for less than 4 percent of India’s electricity generation as opposed to coal which accounts for 70 percent of India’s power. India’s policy suggests a target to reach 450 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. While the rise of utility-scale solar projects, supported by manufacturing and tariff incentives, may help to increase generation, but the availability of pairing technologies for storage and efficient distribution will drive sustainable growth. Concerns on land acquisition, regulatory approaches, capital availability will have to be addressed to drive the large-scale implementation. The Ministry of non-renewable Energy has undertaken the Phase II of implementing Roof Top Solar with an aim to add 4000 MW in residential areas by 2022. Installed renewable power generation capacity has gained pace over the past few years, posting a CAGR of 17.33 percent between FY16-20.

To reap the benefits of efficient and green power, we must pay attention to building a strong foundation which is the standards, regulations, and quality of infrastructure we are building. Power distribution is a key pivot in “minimising of carbon emissions”. AT&C losses of the electrical grid are a major contributor to carbon emissions. The use of energy efficient low-loss transformers for buildings, solar and wind energy farms are key to helping green power ecosystems reach their full potential.

Energy efficiency is driven essentially by greater awareness and the adoption of better technologies. The cost-first mindset of buyers, whether industrial or in the consumers market, is a key hindrance. This is further slowed down by the lack of enforcement of certain key standards to drive energy efficiency. Over the next decade, we will see greater awareness leading to a change in mindset and thereby, driving energy efficiency in every area. In fact, the trends of miniaturisation, use of storage cells as a primary power source, longer life, and recyclability are further going to drive the innovations and commercialisation of energy-efficient technologies. However, energy efficiency must be coupled with reliability, quality and safety to achieve a meaningful value for the customers, as efficient equipment or kilowatt of power is of no use if it’s not reliable and safe.

What are the major green initiatives happening in the conventional power sector? 

Green initiatives in the conventional power sector are mostly centered on the effective and smart distribution of power. The focus is on reducing the T&D losses for power, which are among the highest in the world, to acceptable norms. This is also crucial for the survival and good financial health of DISCOMs. Upgradation of power distribution technology is a key challenge. The Transformer failure rates in India remains among the highest, while the life of the transformers being the lowest. 

What are the challenges in implementing copper as an essential part in power / RE sector? 

Smart Grids, Solar PV, Electric Mobility or Data Centers-the modern infrastructure demands reliability, safety, and sustainability of the new order. It is here the superior properties of Copper are complementary to our goal. From superior performance to high recyclability, Copper outperforms most other alternatives on every front. A change in mindset that values standards, quality, longer life, sustainability and better performance over lower upfront costs is crucial to sustaining India’s growth in the future. Copper is an essential element to making sustainable gains in India’s growth. 

While the standards and regulations in India can be called upon as equivalent to some of the best, the adoption remains largely voluntary. Enforcement of standards, even in critical aspects such as electrical safety, continues to remain weak and largely unaccountable. Unless the gaps in regulatory policy and on the ground reality are addressed effectively, India’s green energy infrastructure risks being built on a weak foundation. 

With the government’s push for sustainability and energy efficiency, how is ICAI regulating standards to have a safe and efficient shift towards green energy? 

Over the last decade, ICA India has been working closely with the Central Electricity Agency (CEA), BIS, Forum of Regulators, Ministry of Power, Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) and many other regional and local organisations to create and implement standards.

In solar PVs, the layout, sizing, and transmission ability of cables is critical to the safe and efficient functioning of solar PV modules. In India, the wiring layout and management is guided by the National Electrical Code, and the guidelines provided by the Ministry of Renewable Energy. ICA India has been working closely with both the organisations in enabling better standards for safe and green building and power infrastructure including balance of systems in solar area.