TG expects Centre’s boost to achieve its renewable energy goals by 2030
The Union renewable energy ministry has so far installed seven lakh roof top solar panels in the country.;
HYDERABAD: Driven by the twin objectives of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels to check the outflow of foreign exchange and meeting its commitments to decarbonisation and sustainability, the Union Budget has laid emphasis on advancing green energy initiatives by proposing an additional `10,000 crore for the renewable energy sector.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that a substantial amount would be used to expand renewable energy infrastructure and thereby the capacity.
As regards the Muft Bijli Yojana (free power) as part of PM Surya Ghar Scheme, Sitharaman said that the government was targeting installation of 50 lakh rooftop solar panels by March 2026. This would help households to get up to 300 units of free electricity every month.
There is no clarity on the benefits Telangana would get. The Union renewable energy ministry has so far installed seven lakh roof top solar panels in the country.
The government has allocated `600 crore for the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which is a significant jump from the previous year’s `100 crore. India aims to become a global leader in green hydrogen production and export through NGHM. It intends to produce at least five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, with a sizeable portion dedicated to exports.
The Budget announced incentives to manufacture solar photovoltaic modules domestically to reduce imports.
Sitharaman also announced viability gap funding to industrialists to develop an initial capacity of one gigawatt (GW) in offshore wind energy. This move is part of a broader strategy to diversify renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
The Telangana government, as part of its new green and renewable energy policy, is hoping to attract investments worth `1.98 lakh crore and generate approximately 1.14 lakh new jobs in this sector in the next one decade. The government has set a target of adding 20,000 MW of renewable energy by 2030, by promoting rooftop solar installations atop government buildings and promoting solar power plants by women self-help groups.
The Telangana government is expecting a major boost from the Centre under Surya Ghar Yojana. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has urged the Centre to support the state’s green energy activities.
Speaking on the government’s focus on clean-tech manufacturing, Niranjan Nayak, MD of Delta Electronics India, said, “the Union Budget lays down a strong foundation for India to transition towards becoming a sustainable, technology-driven, and self-reliant economy. The emphasis of the government on green energy, EV infrastructure, AI-led innovation, and digital transformation also very closely syncs with our endeavour to deliver energy-efficient and smart solutions that will power the future. We believe that this move would place India on a further accelerated net-zero emission path and spur technological leadership for the country simultaneously. Higher penetration of clean mobility will be facilitated through investments in modernising smart grids and EV charging infrastructure.”