India, which ranks third in terms of energy consumption, just after China and the US, has significant potential for renewable energy and is a significant factor in attaining sustainable living on earth. With more than 22 tones consumed yearly, it also ranks third in terms of oil usage. There is a growing demand for our nation to diversify towards natural and renewable energy to meet national demands. Many top engineering colleges in India are upgrading their curriculums to ensure that prospective students are able to meet the demands of the industry.
With the increasing depletion of oil and natural gas reserves and the lower cost of implementing renewable technologies, now is an excellent opportunity to investigate what this trend means for the renewable energy industry in India this year.
The adoption of renewable energy in India significantly slowed in 2020 but picked up towards the end of 2021. The market for distributed solar PV is expanded by improving its renewable energy regulations. Since 2020, such government-led initiatives and others have assisted India in doubling its capacity for renewable energy.
What is India’s Capacity for Renewable Energy
In order to attract greater investment into the industry, many Indian states have modified their regulations on renewable energy. Solar alone has seen an 18x rise in installed capacity, going from 2.63 GW in 2014 to 49.3 GW in 2022.
The generation of electricity from renewable sources as of May 2022 was 19.31 billion units. India’s installed capacity reached its maximum level in April 2022 at 158.12 GW. This corresponds to around 39.43% of India’s total installed power generation. Compared to the first half of 2021, 8.2 GW more capacity has been added in just the first quarter of 2022.
Government Policy to Promote India’s Renewable Market Growth
- SECI, the governing organization in charge of developing India’s whole renewable energy industry, has been given a budget of USD 132 billion.
- Additionally, the Union budget included USD2.57 billion for a PLI program that promoted the production of high-efficiency solar modules.
- At the COP-26 Summit in Glasgow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated increasing India’s renewable energy capacity to 500 GW in order to satisfy 50% of India’s energy demand.
- The Rooftop Solar Program Phase II is revised by the MNRE and aims to reach a capacity of 4000 MW in the residential sector, accelerated by subsidies.
- The National Solar Mission which was framed in 2010 was revised in 2014. By 2022, 100 GW of solar power installation capacity is the goal. The government proposed many programs to encourage solar energy in order to meet this aim.
Opportunities for Engineers in India
A career in the field of sustainable and renewable energy is an attractive alternative during the current energy crisis. Graduates in engineering such as electrical, and mechanical engineering from the best engineering colleges in Maharashtra may look into positions like:
- Solar Energy System Engineers
- Project Managers
- Wind Farm Designers
- Environmental Engineers
- Sustainability Development Engineers
- Chief Environmental Engineers
In India, significant renewable energy sources include solar energy, wind energy, thermal energy, biomass energy, and tidal energy. All of the big enterprises nowadays must keep an eye on their energy usage. This implies that possibilities for engineering graduates in the field of renewable and sustainable energy will increase significantly across all industrial sectors.
Advantages of a Career in Renewable Energy
Renewable energy technologies formerly occupied an environmental niche. However, today’s data of the commercial feasibility of renewable energy sources shows that it is a major force in boosting economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement. There are several career prospects in planning, financing, installation, storage, distribution, operation, maintenance, processing, and renewable power sales and grid management.
These are the advantages of a career in renewable energy:
- There is a lot of potential for genuine growth in the industry and newer technologies are being developed every day in the industry, creating an influx of jobs and opportunities for engineers.
- Currently, there is a shortage of skilled engineers in the industry, which means that you will be handsomely paid for your knowledge and skills in the industry.
- Working with renewable energy means that you will be using your knowledge for a good cause. The world needs renewable energy for a greener and better future.
- It is a fast-paced and innovative industry with a lot of dynamic scope. You will work with other professionals who have a real passion for the cause.
- You will be spearheading futuristic tech in one of the most important industries today.
Conclusion
With the world’s primary resources quickly decreasing and creating environmental and ecosystem harm, the industry is fast switching toward sustainable technologies e.g. finding alternatives for the use of plastic, energy-efficient appliances, electric cars, and access to solar energy, etc.
The demand for engineers working in the core sector will no doubt increase in the coming years. Engineers are needed to research, design, and construct ways to find new, eco-friendly, and sustainable sources of energy. Many top engineering colleges in Nashik offer excellent undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programs to help you make a great career in renewable energy.