It's common to say little is being done in India or China to boost clean energy.
But this is untrue. Infact China and India are doing far more than western nations, and may soon become clean energy superpowers.
Here are some remarkable numbers I found.
(Thread)
But this is untrue. Infact China and India are doing far more than western nations, and may soon become clean energy superpowers.
Here are some remarkable numbers I found.
(Thread)
In 2010, India got around 10 MW of power from solar, out of total capacity of 160 GW. Solar energy stood at 0.006% of total supply. Abysmal.
The govt said, let’s get solar to 20 GW by 2022. That’s a 2000% increase in just 12 years.
Crazy plan, right? Well, they did it.
The govt said, let’s get solar to 20 GW by 2022. That’s a 2000% increase in just 12 years.
Crazy plan, right? Well, they did it.
Remarkably, India hit the 20 GW target in 2018. A full four years ahead of schedule!
And if you know India, you know that rarely anything gets done ahead of schedule.
How did it happen?
And if you know India, you know that rarely anything gets done ahead of schedule.
How did it happen?
Long story, but essentially because China invested so much in solar energy that by mid-2010s it had a glut of solar panels.
But while Europe slapped tarriffs on cheap Chinese solar panels to stop dumping them here 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️...
India didn't. So Chinese companies built them in India
But while Europe slapped tarriffs on cheap Chinese solar panels to stop dumping them here 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️...
India didn't. So Chinese companies built them in India
"Cheap Chinese equipment drove down costs for developers, giving India some of the lowest prices for solar-based electricity tariffs in the world. Tariffs fell to less than Rs 3 ($0.04) per KWH as companies bid furiously for projects..."
Then what happened? Bad Indian govt policy stepped in.
They jacked up taxes and import duties on solar, leading to a fall in solar installations.
They jacked up taxes and import duties on solar, leading to a fall in solar installations.
In 2020, the total installed capacity of solar energy in India stands at around 28 GW against its target of 100 GW by 2022.
Solar power is one of the few bright spots in India and China. And both are investing far more than we are.
And the market played a big role in this too.
Solar power is one of the few bright spots in India and China. And both are investing far more than we are.
And the market played a big role in this too.
But this episode also illustrates the HUGE impact that small changes in govt policy can have on energy development.
The problem we face against the climate crisis is not technology, ideology or markets.
It's political will.
Credit for info and graphs goes to @TheKenWeb.
The problem we face against the climate crisis is not technology, ideology or markets.
It's political will.
Credit for info and graphs goes to @TheKenWeb.
@TheKenWeb Here are more details on the above, at The Ken, written by @peegeekay.
the-ken.com/the-nutgraf/su…
the-ken.com/the-nutgraf/su…
@TheKenWeb @peegeekay I also wrote an article praising the Indian govt (rare for me!) on solar energy development, in 2017
hindustantimes.com/columns/why-in…
hindustantimes.com/columns/why-in…
