Will India Reintroduce Zero To The World?
Zero plays an important role in mathematics as a place-holding value and an additive identity. Originated in India, zero led the world to mathematical, scientific, and astronomical discoveries. Today, the world is grappling with another issue: achieving net-zero emissions. This provides India an opportunity to be the torchbearer for efficient methods in achieving net-zero emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions have reached their highest level in 2 million years, according to the United Nations. Without a doubt, economies around the world, particularly India, are gearing to transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.
India's role
India has the demographic dividend of a young, enterprising population with a buzzing startup and social entrepreneurship ecosystem which can lead the green energy transition. The nation is also a key player in the International Solar Alliance's 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' programme, which aims to use solar energy 24 hours a day through a global grid, transmitting clean energy anywhere, anytime. It was a proud moment for India when it arrived at COP26 by exceeding its key Paris commitments. The Prime Minister's vision was clear in laying out the targets to achieve carbon net neutrality by 2070 with 500GW of renewable capacity by 2030. This presents a huge challenging opportunity for India. India is also on the verge of economic expansion and is expected to have the highest rise in energy demand globally by 2040.
According to recent studies conducted by the CEEW, Natural Resources Defence Council, and Skill Council for Green Jobs, the sector has the potential to generate 10 lakh jobs by 2030. That is nearly ten times the current workforce in the existing green energy space. It stated that small-scale renewable energy projects would generate the majority of the new jobs, as opposed to utility or large-scale projects. Rooftop solar, for example, employs an average of 24.72 people per MW. Small-scale hydro and biomass have corresponding figures of 13.84 and 16.24 people, respectively, adds another report by CEEW. This implies a lock, stock, and barrel transition to a new energy source that includes transition in the skillset of talent, research and technical know-how, manufacturing and supply chains, and every other ecosystem.
Bridging the gap
One way to close the gap is to catch potential workforce early — in high school or college. Clean-energy companies can collaborate with governing bodies like the AICTE or the UGC to create or modify existing curricula to ensure graduates from industrial training institutes, engineering colleges, science, and other research institutes have a solid understanding of this sunrise sector's needs. For this, we could also seek assistance from the Institutes of Eminence, which house some of the country's brightest minds. To encourage skill development and innovation, industry players should create unique ecosystems such as Tata Power Skill Development Institute, which addresses the skill gap challenge faced by the Indian power sector (both in conventional and new energy space); and The Clean Energy International Incubation Centre, which promotes clean energy-related innovations.
India hub of solar champions
Employment is a key driver of India's growth and it is heartening to know that 78,000 trainees have been certified under the Indian government’s Suryamitra training program between 2015 and July 2021. More efforts are required if we’re to train millions of people and serve as a role model for the rest of the world, demonstrating how a developing economy like India can achieve net-zero.
