Indian wind energy in trouble

Growth of 1250% from 2000-2010 in jeopardy.

A report from Climate Policy Initiative, a U.S.-based global policy effectiveness analysis and advisory organization, said India faces significant infrastructure challenges that may derail otherwise good energy efficiency policies.

It said India was the world’s fourth-largest market for new wind power projects in 2012 with ambitious solar energy targets and significant government programs focused on energy efficiency.

“But because it is also about improving energy security, reducing energy imports, improving the nation’s balance of payments, creating new and profitable industries; it also pursues the largest build-out of coal-fired power plants, coal mining and related infrastructure anywhere outside of China.”

India’s industrial productivity has tripled since the early 1990s, but emissions have gone up by 70%.

CPI said India is growing rapidly and represented 8% of increase in global energy-related CO2 emissions between 2000 and 2010. Both emissions and power generation also increased dramatically more than doubling in 15 years.

“The renewable energy certificate policy in India, which is adapted from policies like the renewable obligation certificate market in the UK and the renewable portfolio standards in the US, is having, at best, mixed results . . . .”