India a model for cleaner economic growth and recovery post-COVID-19

India has become the world’s largest and most competitive clean energy auction market – and a model country for others looking to leverage low-carbon investments in their COVID-19 economic recovery strategy, suggests a new white paper from Bloomberg Philanthropies and BloombergNEF (BNEF).

The India’s Clean Power Revolution report outlines how India’s rapid progress in sustainable economic growth and clean energy can be a model for nations looking to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic through the adoption of green stimuli that maximise economic, health, and environmental benefits.

India is currently ranked as the top emerging market for clean energy investment by BNEF, reflecting a comprehensive set of enabling policies introduced by its government to meet a goal of 450 GW clean energy by 2030, its openness to investors and the volume of renewables auctioned in recent years.

‘Governments around the world are working to strengthen national economies after the devastation of the coronavirus. If we act wisely, the response to this crisis can also be a turning point in the battle against the climate crisis,’ says Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies. ‘Investment in clean energy goes hand in hand with economic growth. India is a great example of that, and with its ambitious goals for the years ahead, India’s policies have helped to make it the number one ranked emerging market for clean energy investment.’

Shri Raj Kumar, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Minister of State, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, India, notes that the government aims to sharply lift the proportion of India's electricity that comes from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. He says: ‘India pledged in Paris that by 2030, 40% of our installed capacity will be from green sources, non-fossil-fuel based resources. By 2030, the energy from non-fossil-fuel sources will be 55–60%.

The report outlines how India’s competitive renewables market and ambitious clean power goals are projected to double the share of zero-carbon electricity generated in the country over the next decade. Thanks to the competitiveness of renewables, attaining these goals would save over $78bn in power system costs and avoid 2,860mn tonnes of CO₂ emissions, improving air quality and reducing respiratory illnesses and early deaths across the country. The transition represents a $410bn investment opportunity in new power generation capacity, whilst $223bn of investment in transmission and distribution infrastructure will be needed to accompany this growth.

India’s success in creating a vibrant clean energy market provides a range of lessons for both developed and developing economies looking to leverage renewables and reduce power procurement costs. Solar and wind have been the cheapest sources of bulk power generation in India since 2018.