Greenpeace releases the second version of the ‘Energy [R]evolution: A sustainable India Energy Outlook’, a practical energy blueprint on how India can provide secure and affordable energy supply without compromising on our economic development, as well as ensure that our carbon emission growth is significantly reduced.
Energy [R]evolution: A sustainable India Energy Outlook is a
blueprint for curbing carbon emissions while ensuring economic
development and growth. The report emphasises that 35% of the
country's electricity demands can be met from renewable energy by
2030 and 50% of the projected energy requirements can be met simply
from smart and efficient production, distribution and use of
energy.
At the release, Sven Teske, lead author and Renewable Energy
Expert, Greenpeace International said, "Unlike other energy
scenarios that promote energy futures at the cost of the climate,
our energy revolution scenario shows how to save money and maintain
global economic development without fuelling catastrophic climate
change. All we need to kick start this plan is bold energy policy
from India's leaders". India is in a position to lead the world as
far as Energy [R]evolution is concerned, and without compromising
on her goals for economic development, "There is a huge opportunity
in going green now given the fact that India is still developing
its energy infrastructure and has the human and intellectual
capital to be world leaders on this front" Teske emphasised.
Renewable Energy champions including K. Subramanya CEO, Tata BP
Solar, V. Subramanian, CEO, Indian Wind Energy Association and Dr.
Debashish Majumdar, Director, Indian Renewable Energy Development
Agency Limited endorsed the Greenpeace Energy [R]evolution Report
and highlighted the economic sense in India's going green.
Providing a global perspective, Oliver Schäfer, Policy
Director-EREC (European Renewable Energy Council) said, "The global
market for renewable energy can grow at double digit rates until
2050, and overtake the size of today's fossil fuel industry.
Currently, the renewable energy market is worth USD 70 billion and
doubling in size every three years. Because of economy of scales,
renewable energies such as wind power at good sites are already
competitive with conventional power. From around 2015 onwards, we
are confident that renewable energies across all sectors will be
the most cost effective energy capacities. The renewable industry
is ready and able to deliver the needed capacity to make the energy
revolution a reality. There is no technical impediment but a
political barrier to rebuild the global energy sector," he
added.
Srinivas Krishnaswamy, Political and Business Advisor,
Greenpeace India said, "In the context of today's economic
instability, investing in renewable energy technologies is a
win-win scenario: a win for energy security, a win for the economy
and a win for the climate. Renewable energy sources have the
potential to produce electricity without any further fuel costs
beyond 2030, creating an enormous number of jobs and helping lift
the whole world out of recession. It can also provide immediate and
reliable energy for the 600 million plus Indians who have no access
to electricity today."
"Climate science today tells us that the threat of global
warming is more dire than earlier predicted. We are the last
generation that has a chance to avert climate catastrophe. We need
an energy revolution and we need it now", said Srinivas summing up
the discussion.
For further information, contact
Shrinivas Krishnaswamy, Policy Advisor-Greenpeace India + 91 (0) 99587 98828
Vasudha Mehta, Greenpeace India Communications +91 (0) 99589 80909
Vinuta Gopal, Manager, Climate and Energy Campaign, Greenpeace India + 91 (0) 9845535418
Notes to Editor
• Copies of the Energy [R]evolution: A sustainable World Energy Outlook report can be downloaded from: http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/energy-revolution
• The report provides a practical blueprint for rapidly cutting energy-related CO2 emissions in order to help ensure that global greenhouse gas emissions peak no later then 2015 and rapidly decrease after that. This is achieved even while ensuring that India has access to the energy it needs to match its ambitious growth plans.
• The report was developed in conjunction with specialists from the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Dutch Institute Ecofys and more than 40 scientists and engineers from universities, institutes and the renewable energy industry around the world.
• This year’s edition of the Energy [R]evolution includes a detailed analysis of the potential for energy efficiency, future transport systems such as electric cars and a financial analysis of the power sector.
• This report excludes so-called ‘CO2-free coal power plants’, which are not in fact CO2 free and would create additional problems in trying to store the gas under the surface of the Earth (commonly referred to as the ‘Carbon Capture and Storage’ Mechanism) with unknown consequences. For multiple safety and environmental reasons, nuclear energy is also excluded.
• The report also has a Greenpeace proposal for a feed-in tariff system in India, which would provide the financing to enable massive renewable energy uptake. The scheme provides for a mechanism where the additional costs of renewable energies are financed by a combination of new sectoral emissions trading mechanisms and direct finance from technology funds to be developed in the Copenhagen climate deal.