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					</table>Delhi can transition away from fossil fuels entirely by as early as 2050, researchers at the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (<a href="https://www.lut.fi/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LUT University</a>) in Finland said in its latest study.
The research drew out an “Energy System Transition Model” and studied its feasibility as a pathway across North India with Delhi as a case to achieve 100% renewables by 2050.
Based on the model, the team estimated that the city’s demand can be efficiently met with 100% renewables while achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The researchers said the unique features of the model will enable cost-optimal energy system transition pathways on high levels of geospatial and temporal resolutions.
Currently, cities contribute massively to the growing energy demand with two-thirds of global energy consumption, and by extension are responsible for 70% of global GHG emissions.
Solar can lead Delhi’s transition
The study said that solar energy supply is expected to increase rapidly through the transition and generate about 96% of the demand by 2050, which is already the lowest-cost electricity source.
<div id="attachment_47185" style="width: 714px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-47185" class="wp-image-47185 size-full" src="https://mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WhatsApp-Image-2023-01-02-at-5.21.55-PM.jpeg" alt="" width="704" height="504" srcset="https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WhatsApp-Image-2023-01-02-at-5.21.55-PM.jpeg 704w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WhatsApp-Image-2023-01-02-at-5.21.55-PM-300x215.jpeg 300w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WhatsApp-Image-2023-01-02-at-5.21.55-PM-650x465.jpeg 650w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WhatsApp-Image-2023-01-02-at-5.21.55-PM-624x447.jpeg 624w, https://mercomindia.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/WhatsApp-Image-2023-01-02-at-5.21.55-PM-600x430.jpeg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px" />Solar can meet 96% of Delhi&#8217;s energy demands by 2050 | Source: LUT University</div>
Delhi is likely to import low-cost renewable electricity from its neighboring states, as this is the least-cost solution for the entire region. This could be achieved with direct investments, power purchase agreements, or other forms of longer-term contracts which would contribute to equalizing the cost levels.
Additionally, the team pointed out that the opportunities for low-carbon investments in cities are immense and the amplification of these investments can drive energy transitions regionally as well as nationally.
This is expected to lead to a rapid decline the GHG emissions in comparison to the current levels of 825 MtCO2eq/a in 2020, which will be in line with the Paris Agreement target of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C.
The level of air pollution is simultaneously expected to decline through the transition to near zero by 2050, reducing associated health impacts across the region and avoiding premature mortalities,
Further, the research said that the energy transition across North India can create massive job opportunities, with the total number of direct energy jobs set to increase rapidly from about 1.8 million in 2020 to just over 4.4 million by 2050.
Powering megacities with renewables
According to the UN, urban agglomerations having over 10 million inhabitants are counted as megacities. Most of the megacities are from developing regions, with a majority in China and India.
When it comes to cutting emissions, megacities around the world will have to lead with science-based climate targets including energy pathways for reducing GHG emissions.
The researchers analyzed the development of the energy system (power, heat, transport, and desalination sectors) in the best policy scenario (BPS), in which greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions reach zero by 2050 with the comprehensive adoption of sustainable technologies.
The research relied on several models including electricity generation technologies with renewable energy (RE), fossil, and nuclear technologies, heat generation technologies with renewable and fossil and energy storage technologies with electricity and heat storage technologies.
Further, the models also considered fuel conversion technologies with fuels for energy, mainly in transport and fuel storage technologies along with electricity transmission technologies.
The Ministries of Power and New and Renewable Energy continued with policy reforms in 2022, for a robust green energy market in the country. Read India’s Green Policies in 2022 which <a href="https://mercomindia.com/indias-green-laid-the-groundwork-to-meet-future-targets/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">laid</a> the groundwork to meet future targets.
India’s cumulative installed renewable energy capacity, including large hydro projects, stood at 163.7 GW, accounting for a 40.3% share of the overall power capacity mix at the end of the third quarter (Q3) of the calendar year (CY) 2022, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority (<a href="https://cea.nic.in/?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CEA</a>), and Mercom’s <a href="https://mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-project-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India Solar Project Tracker.</a>

Finland-based University Says Delhi Can Achieve 100% Renewables by 2050

The Ministry of Power (<a href="https://powermin.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MoP</a>) issued a notification to cover all distribution companies (DISCOMs) under the purview of the Energy Conservation (EC) Act, 2001, to help reduce electricity losses and bring transparency.
The Ministry has prepared the notification in consultation with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, a statutory body under the Ministry of Power. According to the new notification, all entities having issued distribution licenses under the Electricity Act, 2003, are notified as designated consumers. Earlier, only DISCOMs with annual energy losses of 1,000 Million Units (MU) or above were covered as designated consumers.
As per the new notification, the number of DISCOMs covered under the Energy Conservation Act will increase from 44 to 102. These DISCOMs will be governed under various provisions including, energy accounting and auditing, the appointment of an energy manager, identification of energy losses category-wise, and implementation of energy conservation and efficiency measures.
“This decision will facilitate energy accounting and auditing as a mandatory activity for all the DISCOMs leading to the actions towards reducing losses and increase the profitability of DISCOMs,” said the press statement.
MoP stated that the new amendment would help distribution companies monitor their performance and bring in transparency in the sector. It added that the amendment would help improve the financial state of DISCOMs and assist them in developing projects that can reduce their electricity losses.
According to its press statement, the government will collect and monitor the quarterly data of these DISCOMs to suggest various measures to enhance efficiency and reduce energy losses. The move is expected to be more effective if it is extended to the level of end consumers.
According to the Ministry of Power’s payment ratification and analysis portal PRAAPTI, DISCOMs <a href="https://mercomindia.com/discom-dues-to-renewable-generators/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">owed</a> over ₹106.7 billion (~$1.43 billion) to renewable energy generators (excluding disputed amounts) in overdue payments across 460 pending invoices at the end of September. This was a slight decline from August when DISCOMs <a href="https://mercomindia.com/discoms-dues-to-renewable-generators-keep-rising/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">owed</a> renewable generators ₹109.08 billion (~$1.49 billion) in overdue payments spread across 497 invoices.
The MoP also <a href="https://mercomindia.com/power-ministry-decides-late-payment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">proposed</a> Late Payment Surcharge Rules 2020 after noticing the extremely high rate of late payment surcharges prevailing in the sector. The ministry has noted that the high rates were determined at a time when the cost of borrowing was also high. But now that the rates of interest have reduced, it found the need to reduce the late payment surcharge to reflect the current interest rates. The rules said that the surcharge on the outstanding payment would increase by 50 basis points each month after the first month’s expiry, subject to a maximum of the applicable bank rate plus 200 basis points.
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All DISCOMs Asked to Comply with Energy Conservation Act to Cut Electricity Losses

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (<a href="http://moef.gov.in/draft-environment-impact-assessment-notification-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MoEFCC)</a> recently issued a draft notification on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) detailing certain restrictions and prohibition to be imposed on the construction of some projects or expansion/modernization of existing projects involving capacity addition, in any part of India. This will supersede the EIA notification 2006 and the subsequent amendments made to it.
The Ministry has extended the date for receiving public opinion, suggestions, or objections to the proposed draft notification to June 30, 2020.
The draft notification titled EIA Notification 2020 will come into force from the date of publication of the final notification in the Official Gazette.
The draft notification has listed some projects that will not require prior environmental clearance or permission. These projects include solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects, solar thermal power projects, and the development of solar parks, manual extraction of lime shells, digging of well for irrigation or drinking water purpose, and coal and non-coal mineral prospecting among others.
After the release of the draft, Wind Pioneers, an engineering company in the renewable energy space, has written to the government asking immediate withdrawal of the notification and amendment of the notification that will strengthen the role of environmental and social protection of people and nature.
Wind Pioneers is a UK-based company with an engineering base in Bangalore, India. Signed by 15 members, the letter was written to Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.
“The Ministry continues to approve mining, industrial, and construction projects in the name of societal development without due allowance to environmental costs. Several of the projects have come under severe backlash from local communities for polluting ecosystems, water sources, and forceful occupation of local farmland and coastal areas,” the letter states.
Further, the letter noted that for affected communities, the EIA regulation remains the only mechanism to ensure that the project developers disclose the details of project design and impacts and that these projects are legally mandated to mitigate impacts and adhere to legal safeguards.
The land in India has been one of the biggest <a href="https://mercomindia.com/land-impediment-large-scale-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">impediments</a> for the expansion of renewable energy projects, especially solar.

Draft Amendment Says No Environmental Clearance Required for Solar Projects

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (<a href="https://beeindia.gov.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BEE</a>), under the ministry of power, is preparing an energy conservation building code for the residential sector, reported IANS.
In June 2017, BEE had developed <a href="https://mercomindia.com/energy-conservation-building-code-2017-launched/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Energy Conservation Building Code</a> (ECBC) 2017 for large commercial buildings with connected load of 100kW and above (or 120 kVA). The code was formulated with technical support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S.-India bilateral Partnership to Advance Clean Energy – Deployment Technical Assistance (PACE-D TA) Program.
&#8220;We are in the process of developing an energy conservation building code for the residential sector. Architects, technology people and stakeholders are working on it,&#8221; Abhay Bakre, Director General of BEE, told IANS.
BEE is also looking at improving the energy efficiency of air-conditioners to save an estimated 40 GW of energy in air-conditioning alone, the official said. Earlier R.K. Singh, Minister for Power, had <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=180130" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suggested</a> that air-conditioner manufacturers should keep the default setting of air conditioners at 24 degree Celsius.
Speaking on the sidelines of Energy and Environment Conclave organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bakre also added, “About 7 million air conditioners are being sold yearly in the country. It is expected to reach 10.5 million in the next 5-6 years. By 2030, there could be possibility of saving about 40 GW of energy for cooling purpose alone if the technologies are improved and available at an affordable price.”
According to Bakre, since April 2016, 800 large consumers such as railways, distribution companies, refineries etc. in the industrial sector, which were consuming about 60 percent of the country&#8217;s energy, are expected to save energy of more than 8 million tonnes of oil equivalent in last three years and meet the target.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/bee-aeee-state-energy-efficiency-index/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Recently,</a> BEE and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), released the State Energy Efficiency Preparedness Index that assesses state policies and programs aimed at improving energy efficiency across various sectors.
<a href="https://mercomindia.com/delhi-ecbc-draft-rooftop-solar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earlier this year</a>,  Delhi government had released its draft Delhi Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2018. The draft ECBC aims to create minimum requirements for the energy-efficient design and construction of commercial buildings in the national capital.

BEE to Launch Energy Conservation Building Code for the Residential Sector

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (<a href="https://beeindia.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BEE</a>) has issued a tender for the empanelment or re-empanelment of eligible entities as Energy Service Company (ESCO).
The application submission deadline is April 15, 2018.
BEE is promoting energy efficiency initiatives in the country under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, including promotion of energy conservation measures in existing facilities through the ESCO model.
BEE intends to prepare and maintain a list of empaneled ESCOs with a validity of two years. For empanelment with BEE, all ESCOs, irrespective of their previous grading validities, will have to undergo fresh assessment this year as the criteria for assessment of ESCOs have now been revised.
India is moving towards a more efficient energy distribution system. Energy efficiency is as important as shifting from fossils to renewables. Energy efficient systems lead to reduced costs and carbon emission. ESCOs generally engage in performance-based contracts with a client firm to implement measures which reduce energy consumption and costs in a technically viable manner.
In June 2017, BEE also developed <a href="https://mercomindia.com/energy-conservation-building-code-2017-launched/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Energy Conservation Building Code</a> (ECBC) 2017 with technical support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the U.S.-India bilateral Partnership to Advance Clean Energy – Deployment Technical Assistance (PACE-D TA) Program.
The ECBC 2017 prescribed the energy performance standards for new commercial buildings to be constructed across India. It provides current as well as futuristic advancements in building technology to further reduce energy consumption in buildings and promote low-carbon growth by setting parameters for builders, designers, and architects to integrate renewable energy sources in the building designs with the inclusion of passive design strategies.
Apart from BEE, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (<a href="https://www.eeslindia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">EESL</a>) is also <a href="https://mercomindia.com/eesl-issues-tender-5-million-smart-meters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">involved in the enhancement</a> of energy efficiency sector.
Mercom previously reported that EESL and the Global Environment Facility (<a href="https://www.thegef.org/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GEF</a>) entered into a partnership to launch a $454 million project called the “Creating and Sustaining Markets for Energy Efficiency” with a target of mitigating 60 million tons of CO2 equivalent and enabling total direct energy savings of 38.3 million GJ (1 GJ = 277.778 kWh) by 2022 and 137.5 million GJ by 2032.

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