Director General, International Renewable Energy Agency: India working properly on phasing out coal, have to give attention to current schemes

India’s efforts to spice up renewable vitality capability had been virtually making it attainable to scale back the usage of coal, Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency instructed Karunjit Singh. He added the nation ought to look to strengthen current renewable vitality applications to hurry up its transition. Edited excerpts:

Q. At COP26, there gave the impression to be an rising view about phasing out coal. Have you had discussions on this with the federal government?

A: I believe that, if for a second, we put apart this dialogue, what we’ve seen is that the Indian authorities is placing the insurance policies that may make it attainable to go away coal. This can’t be achieved by simply closing the plant. This must be achieved by means of applicable insurance policies and, I believe, the primary aspect is to decarbonise the heavy sector. So, on this, we’ve observed and appreciated the constructing of this hydrogen mission, which could be essential to decarbonise the heavy sector. Last 12 months, India has been in a position so as to add one other 13 gigawatts of renewable vitality. We have seen that it’s the fourth nation on the earth, after we contemplate putting in capability of renewables. And we’ve seen on the market that they’re elevating the ambition for (renewable vitality capability) from 450 to 500 gigawatts by 2030. So, there are numerous issues that present that India is transferring in that route … India is a fancy actuality, it’s a continent. So it’s very troublesome to behave and we see that the federal government is appearing at its greatest to make issues transfer in the proper route.

Newsletter | Click to get the day’s greatest explainers in your inbox

Q. What are your ideas on the necessity for concessional finance to spice up renewable vitality capability in growing international locations?

A: I believe that the system is ready to get the cash they want. Then there may be naturally the complexity of transferring sooner. But we don’t see monetary points as a barrier for vitality transition of India. They have been capable of put in place a authorized setting that’s beneficial for funding to return. Just see how lively overseas firms are to attempt to get the brand new market of hydrogen in India. So, we’re fairly optimistic within the capability of the nation to draw the monetary assets wanted. Naturally, there may be additionally an vital position for the general public after which the monetary concessional loans programme. We have additionally illustrated our initiative on the local weather funding platform on the vitality transition accelerator financing, which can facilitate cash to return and be efficient within the nation. But, once more, in case you ask me the overall pondering on this, I believe India has no downside attracting monetary assets it wants as a result of it’s an important market.

Q. How a lot of a barrier is the variability of renewable vitality within the vitality transition?

A: Sure, so the variability of the vitality or the renewables within the previous vitality system could also be an issue as a result of the grids usually are not versatile or not interconnected. This is the priority. We must even be very clear that within the previous vitality system, with the grid as they’re now renewables, 35%, 40% or 45% could also be within the system with out creating issues. When we wish to go additional — increased than this threshold — it’s vital that the grid is customized to make sure the pliability and the connectivity wanted. And, the place the position of the hydropower, batteries, hydrogen — as a result of hydrogen may be used as seasonal storage. All these components must be put collectively and work collectively to make the system perform harmoniously. So, naturally, the variability is there, however just isn’t a attribute which will hamper the event of renewables if we adapt the precise grids and system. I additionally wish to clarify that it isn’t solely an added value due to the vitality transition. Because the demand is rising and the grid must be renewed and enlarged anyway. So, in simply the case to make this occur in a approach that the system may very well be enhanced to turn out to be extra trendy, to permit for extra different vitality to return into the system.

Q. What are coverage suggestions for India for the vitality transition?

A: More than focussing on one or two areas, I say they must strengthen what they’re doing. Because, in my view, they’re doing properly. Naturally, once more, everybody has to do extra. But they’re engaged on the grid. They understood how related hydrogen may very well be. They will include a hydrogen mission, with a map which will enable them to have extra hydrogen. So, they’re working to decarbonise the heavy sector. They are working to export inexperienced hydrogen. They are additionally focussing on bio refineries as a result of bioenergy can be one of many different components and can be related within the new vitality system… So all these components are all collectively there. So they must go presently to strengthen the road of labor that they’re following. It is not less than our evaluation coming from the work we’re doing, our evaluation on India.

Q: Are there considerations in growing international locations that rising reliance on batteries might result in dependence on a number of international locations for uncommon earth minerals?

A: This is a proper concern but it surely’s not an inevitable barrier. In which sense, to begin with, we name them minerals and uncommon earths however geologically they don’t seem to be uncommon. So, one of many first elements is to place in place the proper insurance policies to make sure extra mining in a sustainable and environmental approach. Another facet is that we will scale back the demand of these minerals and uncommon earths by means of innovation and that is already taking place. Third, these minerals are recyclable. So the round financial system can be vital for diminishing demand and for avoiding dependencies from these minerals and uncommon earths … What is vital is that the priority must be there and we’ve to place in place insurance policies which will keep away from falling below dependencies. But, I believe, the expertise over the previous couple of years may be very clear within the minds of everybody, and international locations are engaged on this. We don’t see this as a barrier if the proper round financial system insurance policies are there to handle it.