 "Harnessing innovation to meet India's net zero emissions goals by 2070")
India stands at a critical juncture in its energy journey. The nation’s voracious appetite for energy, driven by rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, has made it the world’s third-largest consumer of energy. This consumption heavily leans on fossil fuels, with coal, oil, and natural gas constituting around 80 per cent of its energy mix. Despite significant strides in renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency remains suboptimal, and the current reliance on cleaner alternatives like compressed natural gas is not sufficient for a sustainable future.
Coal, the traditional backbone of India’s energy landscape, contributes to severe environmental pollution and health issues. While CNG offers a relatively cleaner alternative, its adoption is hampered by infrastructure limitations and the availability of natural gas, which still emits carbon dioxide when burned.
In this context, India’s ambitious goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2070 presents both a formidable challenge and a remarkable opportunity for tech-led innovation. As a nation, we must decouple our economic growth from carbon emissions, necessitating a transformation in how energy is produced, distributed, and consumed.
The role of innovation in achieving net zero carbon emissions
Technological innovation is the linchpin of India’s energy transition. Several key areas offer promising potential for transformative change:
Waste to Energy / Alternative Fuels: Converting waste into energy not only addresses the problem of waste management but also provides a renewable source of power. Alternative fuels, such as green hydrogen and advanced biofuels, offer a path to reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Green hydrogen, in particular, is gaining attention for its potential in various applications, from transportation to industrial processes. India envisages becoming a leading Green Hydrogen exporter by 2030 and startups like Grassroots Energy are pioneering efforts in this field by converting organic waste into Green Hydrogen. Their patented process is essentially carbon negative by being energy-efficient as well as water-saving and also produces organic fertilisers, thus contributing to a circular economy. Innovations in this space are critical to provide cleaner and locally sourced alternatives to traditional fossil fuels.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNew Battery Chemistries: The transition to renewable energy requires advancements in energy storage. Current lithium-ion batteries, while effective, have limitations in terms of cost, scalability, and environmental impact. Research into new battery chemistries, such as solid-state batteries and sodium-ion batteries, promises to overcome these challenges. But startups like Cancrie are adopting a different approach by using agri-waste as an input to create advanced-grade high-purity nano carbons which are used as an additive on battery electrode plates to increase the battery cycle life and significantly enhance energy efficiency. This leads to faster charging, reduced electricity wastage, and better utilisation of active materials. Such technologies could offer higher energy densities, longer life cycles, and safer operation, thereby enhancing the viability of renewable energy sources.
Battery Recycling: With the rise in Li-ion battery use driven by EV adoption and companies like Reliance and Ola Electric gearing up to establish their Li-ion battery plants by 2025, there’s a need for sustainable recycling of end-of-life batteries, as India faces a substantial waste recycling challenge. Minimines for instance offers a clean-tech solution for recycling Lithium-ion batteries that actually extracts rare metals like Lithium, Manganese, Cobalt, and Nickel at a high level of purity. Their innovative process is more energy and water-efficient compared to traditional methods, with zero direct emissions and high metal recovery rates. This not only addresses the waste generated from used batteries but also opens the possibility of recycled rare metals to be used as production inputs, reducing India’s reliance on imported mined metals and preventing resource depletion.
Distributed Renewable Energy: Decentralised energy systems, including rooftop solar and microgrids, are crucial for ensuring energy access and resilience. Distributed renewable energy systems can reduce transmission losses and provide reliable power to remote areas. Innovations in this space can significantly enhance energy access and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.
Propelling innovation forward
To realise the full potential of such innovations, a multifaceted approach is necessary. Increasing catalytic investment in early stage enterprises is crucial for discovering and refining new technologies. There also needs to be a parallel focus on the implementation of technologies that are ready for deployment. Collaboration between the public and private sector can accelerate the development and deployment of innovative energy solutions. Public-private partnerships can facilitate investment, share risks, and leverage the strengths of both sectors.
By harnessing the power of innovation and fostering an ecosystem that supports the development and deployment of new technologies, India can achieve a sustainable and resilient energy future. The transition will require concerted effort across all sectors of society, but the potential rewards – cleaner air, healthier communities, and a robust economy – are well worth the investment.
The author is a Director at ACT, a venture philanthropy platform that believes that an entrepreneurial mindset, technology and innovation, and collective action have the power to create meaningful social impact at scale. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
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