Impact of Renewable Energy on India's Energy Mix
India is currently the third largest energy consumer in the world after China and the United States. With a population of over 1.3 billion and a rapidly growing economy, India's energy demands are rising exponentially. This surging energy consumption is being driven by factors such as economic development, industrialisation, rising household incomes, and urbanisation. More Indians are shifting to higher standards of living which requires increased usage of appliances, vehicles, and other energy-intensive technologies. Key sectors like transportation, construction, manufacturing and services have high energy dependence and account for a major share of India’s total commercial energy consumption. Over-reliance on Fossil Fuels To meet the ballooning energy needs of its populace and industries, India has traditionally relied heavily on domestic coal reserves and imported fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. Coal alone comprised nearly 55% of the commercial energy needs of the countr...