The Silicon Review ^Asia

The government of India intends to add 500 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy to its electricity grid by 2030, Reuters reported. The announcement was made public on Tuesday.

The step is being taken in order to curb air pollution in cities and lower down the use of coal. Regarding the plan, the Ministry of Renewable Energy said that within 11 years, the country intends to establish 500 GW of Renewable Energy capacity.

Currently, India ranks third globally, in emitting greenhouse gases. India has committed to lower down emissions and have renewable energy account for at least 40 percent of its installed capacity by 2030, up from 21.4 percent now. Asthe population is on a growing trend, India is seeking to balance the energy demand in an efficient way possible.

For 2017, the government of India brought in few changes in the rules for allotting projects based on renewable energy, which led to more competition, lower prices and greater acceptance of cleaner energy.

But research experts have doubted India’s capabilities of meeting its goals.

The government is battling to make Rural India fully electrified; while fulfilling the energy demands in the urban areas.

As per reports by the ministry of coal, during the end of the financial year 2018-19, the annual coal demand in the country rose 9.1% to 991.35 million tonnes. The main reason behind the surging of India’s coal imports is the ban imposed on the use of petroleum coke, a dirtier alternative to coal, in some parts of the nation.