Anantam IASCurrent Affairs · 9 October 2025

Renewable energy world leading power source

Study Guides · Study Notes · Environment & Ecology · GS III

Context:

A study has highlighted that for the first time ever, renewable energy has eclipsed coal as the world’s leading source of electricity.

Energy sources including renewable energy.

PYQ:

Q. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2015)

1.It is a Public Limited Government Company.

2.It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

For the first time ever, renewable energy (34.3%) eclipsed coal (33.1%) as the world’s leading source of electricity.
In India, Non-fossil sources accounted for 50.1% of its installed electric capacity.
Global renewables could more than double by the end of the decade, with 80 percent of new clean energy capacity expected to come from solar power.
China would remain the world’s biggest growth market for renewables, with India emerging as the second largest over the decade.

2030 Goal: Achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity.
Short-Term Milestones: Reach 50% of energy capacity from renewable sources by 2030.
Current Progress: As of January 2025, India has achieved 217.62 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity.
Net-Zero Commitment: Attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: Facilitated rooftop solar installations, especially in urban areas.
Green Energy Corridor (GEC): Strengthened transmission systems for renewable energy-rich states.
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME): Promoted electric mobility, indirectly supporting renewable energy adoption.
International Solar Alliance (ISA): Aimed to foster global cooperation in solar energy deployment.
National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM): Enhanced grid integration to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.
Hydrogen Energy Mission: Pushed for green hydrogen production as an alternative fuel.

Land Acquisition Issues: Large-scale projects like solar parks face resistance from local communities over land use.
Grid Stability: Intermittency of Renewable Energy sources like solar and wind strains grid reliability, especially during peak production.
Storage Limitations: Lack of large-scale energy storage solutions hinders efficient utilization of renewable power.
E-Waste Management: Rising deployment of solar panels and batteries creates challenges in end-of-life recycling.
Resource Dependency: Dependence on imported critical minerals like lithium and cobalt affects the supply chain.
Policy and Regulatory Hurdles: Delayed approvals and inconsistencies in state-level policies slow down project execution.

Floating Solar Projects: Utilize reservoirs and water bodies for solar installations, preserving land and enhancing efficiency.
Decentralized Energy Systems: Promote blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer energy trading to support small-scale renewable generation.
Green Hydrogen Push: Establish hydrogen highways and integrate surplus renewable energy for hydrogen production.
Circular Economy for E-waste: Develop comprehensive policies for recycling solar panels and batteries to reduce environmental risks.
Urban Renewable Energy Integration: Create incentives for rooftop solar and wind turbines in densely populated urban areas.
Regional Energy Hubs: Establish Renewable Energy Special Economic Zones (RE-SEZs) for localized manufacturing and innovation.