An uncertain energy future

India’s renewable energy targets are too ambitious. It will have to make choices and trade-offs

Written by Vikram S Mehta | Published: December 4, 2017 1:00 am

PV panels account for 60 per cent of the cost of solar power and lithium-ion batteries 40 per cent of the costs of an EV. (Source: Reuters)

The government faces a renewable energy trilemma. It has set itself a target of quadrupling the generation capacity of solar energy by 2022 and shifting the production of new automotive vehicles from the internal combustion model to electric vehicles (EV) by 2030. In parallel, it wants the clean energy industry to develop within the framework of its “Make in India” agenda. Finally, it wants to reduce the country’s dependence on energy and energy-related imports.