Context: India’s push for green energy has borne results, with the country crossing the 100 gigawatt (GW) milestone of installed renewable energy capacity.
Key Points

• The total installed renewable energy capacity in India, excluding large hydro, has crossed the mile-stone of 100 GW.
• Today India stands at 4th position in the world in terms of installed RE capacity, 5th in solar and 4th in wind in terms of installed capacity.
• The 100 GW renewable capacity accounts for 26% of India’s total installed generation capacity of 383 GW.
• It should be noted that in 2015, India had announced its plan to build 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022. 
• This target has been enhanced to install 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Note: While 100 GW has been installed, 50 GW is under installation and 27 GW is under tendering. India has also enhanced its ambition to install 450 GW of  renewable energy  capacity by 2030.If large hydro is included the installed RE capacity increases to 146 GW.

Significance

• The milestone is commendable for the world’s third-largest polluter, as it has been achieved in a short span of five years.
• This milestone of reaching 100 GW, will help us to resist international pressure to declare a net-zero goal and India can call out the developed countries to increase their efforts to reduce carbon emission.
• It also shows India’s commitment to decarbonize its economy and will meet its NDC (nationally determined contributions) targets for power generation from non-fossil fuel sources and emission reductions

Govt. commitments

• The Government is committed to increased use of clean energy sources and is already undertaking various large-scale sustainable power projects and promoting green energy heavily. In addition, renewable energy has the potential to create many employment opportunities at all levels, especially in rural areas.
• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has set an ambitious target to set up renewable energy capacities to the tune of 227 GW by 2022, of which about 114 GW is planned for solar, 67 GW for wind and other for hydro and bio among other. 
• India’s renewable energy sector is expected to attract investment worth US$ 80 billion in the next four years. About 5,000 Compressed Biogas plants will be set up across India by 2023.
• It is expected that by 2040, around 49% of the total electricity will be generated by renewable energy as more efficient batteries will be used to store electricity, which will further cut the solar energy cost by 66% as compared to the current cost. 
• Use of renewables in place of coal will save India Rs. 54,000 crore (US$ 8.43 billion) annually3. Renewable energy will account for 55% of the total installed power capacity by 2030.
• As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates, by 2029-30, the share of renewable energy generation would increase from 18% to 44%, while that of thermal is expected to reduce from 78% to 52%.
• The Government of India wants to develop a ‘green city’ in every state of the country, powered by renewable energy. 

Note: The ‘green city’ will mainstream environment-friendly power through solar rooftop systems on all its houses, solar parks on the city’s outskirts, waste to energy plants and electric mobility-enabled public transport systems.