By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, NOV 15, 2023: UNION Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R. K. Singh, yesterday inaugurated a Power Pavilion set up by the Ministry of Power, Government of India at the ongoing India International Trade Fair 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The pavilion aims to present the key initiatives in the power sector before the domestic and international industry and to also improve public awareness and participation in the schemes and policies of the government. A brochure on the Pavilion can be found here .

Policy initiatives and themes highlighted at the pavilion include National Green Hydrogen Mission, Carbon Capture Technology, One Sun-One World-One Grid, Universal Energy Access through Renewable Energy, Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, Smart Energy (Smart Grid, Smart Meter), Pumped Hydro Storage as a pathway to Grid Stability, Energy Transition, Charging Infrastructure and e-Mobility. The pavilion employs working models, interactive panels, game zones and uses latest technology for presenting to visitors the information about the power sector in a lively and engaging manner.

"It is the developed countries who need to cut down their emissions first"

Addressing the media after the inauguration, the Union Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister spoke about India's position in the wake of the upcoming COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference . Singh said that it is the developed countries who need to cut down their emissions first. "Around 85% of the carbon dioxide load in the atmosphere is due to the path of industrialization followed by developed countries. India's population is 17% of world population while our contribution to carbon dioxide load is only 3.5%. Even now, our per capita emissions are one third of world average, while that of developed countries is three times the world average. The Developed countries used fossil fuels for developing their economies but they want to tell us that we should not use coal. It is the Developed countries that need to cut down their emissions first," the Union Minister said.

"India not to make any compromise on the electricity needs for a growing economy but we will develop responsibly."

The Union Minister emphasized that India is not going to make any compromise on the electricity needs for a growing economy. "We need to develop. At the same time, we will do that responsibly. We were nine years ahead in achieving the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) target of having 40% of installed power capacity from non-fossil-fuel sources by 2030. We pledged at COP-21 in 2015, that we will reduce our emissions intensity by 33% by 2030; we did this by 2019. So, in Glasgow, we have said that by 2030, we will have 50% of our capacity coming from renewables and that we will reduce our emission intensity by 45%. We will achieve it. So, we are on target," R. K. Singh said.

The Minister said that the Power Pavilion at IITF showcases the initiatives and transformation brought by the government in the power sector. "We have transformed the sector, adding around 1.9 lakh MW power capacity during the last nine years. The entire country has been joined under one national grid. The distribution system has been strengthened, with an investment of Rs. 2.1 lakh crores. The availability of power in rural areas is now 21 hours and in urban areas, it is 23.5 hours. We have brought electricity to every household." The Minister added that India is adding renewable energy capacity at the fastest rate in the world.

Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal and other officials of the Ministry and the various organizations under it were also present on the occasion. All Central Public Sector Enterprises under the Ministry, including NTPC, PGCIL, NHPC, REC, PFC, THDC, SJVN, BEE, EESL and CES, are actively participating in the Trade Fair in order to collectively showcase the achievements and initiatives in the power sector.