• The renewable energy or non-conventional energy source refers to sources which are almost unlimited or which can be replenished over a short span of time. Such sources are – sun, wind, water, agricultural residue, natural geysers, firewood, animal dung, etc. The total renewable energy sources in India have the potential to supply about 100,000 MW of power.
• India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement for the Period 2021- 2030 include:
  • To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from 2005 level; and
  • To achieve about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from Non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 with the help of transfer of technology and low cost international finance.
• India has achieved a cumulative installed renewable energy capacity (excluding large hydro) of 92.54 GW out of which 5.47 GW was added in the period April 2020 till January, 2021. During the period from April 2014 to January 2021, the installed RE capacity of India has increased by two-and-half times, and in the same period, the installed solar energy capacity has increased 15 times. 
• Globally, today India stands 4th in RE power capacity, 4th in Wind power, and 5th in Solar Power capacity. India has one of the highest rates of growth for renewable energy in the world. 
• As per Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2020 report, during the period 2014-2019, renewable energy programmes and projects in India attracted an investment of US$ 64.2 billion (Rs 4.7 lakh crore).

Types of Renewable Energy

• Solar Energy: The energy generated from the sun is known as solar energy. India receives solar energy equivalent to over 5000 trillion KWh/year which is far more than total energy consumption in the country. 
• Hydel Energy: The energy generated from water is known as hydel energy. 
• Biomass Energy: The energy available from firewood and agro-residue is known as biomass energy. The traditional chulha, which is used in Indian villages, is an inefficient way of using biomass energy. Ninety per cent of the energy in the fuel is lost into the atmosphere; only ten per cent of the energy goes to actually heat the pot for cooking purposes.
• Biogas Energy: The energy available from animal dung and city biodegradable waste etc is called biogas energy. Depending on how much dung can be collected, biogas can meet the cooking energy needs of nearly 40 percent of the rural households of the country.
• Wind Energy: The energy available from wind is known as wind energy. The Indian wind energy programme is one of the largest in the world, having an installed wind capacity of over 800 MW. India is ranked fifth in the world with a total wind power capacity of 1080 MW, out of which 1025 MW have been established in commercial projects.
• Geothermal Energy: The energy available from hot dry rocks, hot water springs, natural geysers, etc is known as geothermal energy. All the renewable sources of energy are fairly non-polluting and considered clean.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy