To reach a net-zero emissions energy system by 2050, India needs a suitable policy and innovation driven context to deploy clean energy technologies on a massive scale, according to a recent report by TERI and Shell.

It added that this would require more and faster deployment of large-scale solar, wind and hydropower to enable greater electrification across the country.

“It requires the development of new fuels... Energy efficiency must improve significantly, and carbon removals will have a critical role in moving towards zero emissions,” said the report that has assessed India’s technology and policy options if it were to accelerate its transition to a net-zero emissions energy system by 2050.

“With its geographic advantage and availability of vast potential, not only can India materialize its renewable potential, it can also become a global leader to showcase its green energy pathways. This is the right time for India to think in this direction of net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Amitabh Kant, CEO of the NITI Aayog at the report’s launch.

According to the report titled ‘India: Transforming to a net-zero emissions energy system’, the transformations needed over the next 30 years for India, in pursuit of this goal by mid-century would consist of several areas of action.

These would be to grow the power sector by a factor of more than four in 30 years, dominated by renewables, a target 13 per cent hydrogen in final energy, including as a fuel for industry and transport and to transform bioenergy, with liquid biofuels surpassing petroleum products by 2040 to fuel industry and transport.

To support energy-efficient and lower-carbon choices, investments in processes, technologies and end uses to improve energy intensity per unit of GDP by almost 60 per cent by 2050, a rate of improvement nearly twice historical levels, would be required, it added.

The report said that adoption of economic mechanisms such as carbon trading and pricing to facilitate reallocation of capital and resources to support commercialisation of new fuels and technologies and resorting to carbon sequestration to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 would be necessary steps.