On 1st of Feb Finance minister presented interim budget spotlighting renewable energy including combined funding for Solar Power (Grid), the National Green Hydrogen Mission and Wind Power (Grid) projects for the financial year ended March 2025 with a fiscal outlay ofRs. 11,500.Interim budget emphasizing the need for sustainable development through committing to meet ‘Net Zero’ by 2070 under AmritKaal. The outlays announced in the Interim Budget 2024-25, comprises of important measures which in the offing would to pave the path for the nation to become a greener economy. The highlight of the green initiatives focusing on rooftop solarisation by targeting to empower one crore households to receive up to 300 units of free electricity every month. Budget also aims to augment renewable energy and unveils viability gap funding for harnessing offshore wind energy for an initial capacity of one Giga-watt. It also sets up to venture in coal gasification and liquefaction capacity of 100 MT by 2030 through phased mandatory blending of CNG, PNG, and compressed biogas for domestic purposes. The provision has also been made for financial assistance for the procurement of biomass aggregation machinery to speed up augmentation of green energy in the country. It is a significant leap forwardto minimize country’s dependence on import of natural gas, methanol and ammonia and provide for diversified energy base to achieve self- sufficiency. The budget is focused alternative energy sources to encourage stepwise mandatory blending of compressed natural gas (CNG) and compressed bio gas (CBG) for ease of transportation and piped natural gas(PNG).It is a significant policy decision to achieve transitioning away from fossil fuel to sustainable fuel regime.;

Solarisation as Green Energy Revolution

The solar roof top installation as vital component of renewable energy is bound to get boost and benefit the common man. Interim Budget 2024 could act as a catalyst toharness wind & solar energy, green hydrogen projects. Government intends to cover two crore households with roof top in next few years with an objective to boost the renewable sector and check carbon emissions. The government through the Interim Budget 2024 has explicitly shown its resolve to fulfill international commitments of energy transition from fossil fuel to green energy The financial allocation for solar initiatives has seen a substantial rise to Rs. 10,000 crores for the fiscal year 2024-25, marking a 110% increase from the revised estimates of Rs. 4,757 crores. Similarly, the budgetary allocation for the National Green Hydrogen Mission has witnessed a five-fold (500%) surge, reaching Rs. 600 crores for the fiscal year 2024-25. Interim budget is going to provide impetus solar power and supplement to already provided benefits to meet targets. The government’s thrust on rooftop solar, green energy research, viability gap funding for wind energy projects, bio fuels, bio manufacturing, food processing industries, procurement and processing of agro-produces, MSMEs, and financial assistance to women Self-Help Groups is going to revitalize the country’s clean energy initiatives and unleash stellar economic growth in rural economy. The budget is a further demonstration of the sustained government support to the infrastructure sector, evident in an increase of over 11% in allocation. Initiatives such as the development of multi-modal connectivity, a renewed emphasis on advancing solar and wind energy technologies, including offshore wind, and the improvement of railway infrastructure are poised to fuel economic growth. The backing of sustainable technologies, including electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, bodes well for a cleaner future. In all, the budget is expected to lead to a sustained growth of the economy Sustainable Development/Green Energy.
Further, there will be rooftop solarisation with one crore households enabled to obtain up to 300 units of free electricity per month. The government also plans to adopt e-buses for public transport and strengthen the e-vehicle ecosystem by supporting the manufacturing and charging of electric vehicles. A new scheme of bio-manufacturing and bio-foundry will be launched to support environment-friendly alternatives.1.3 crore LED street lights will be installed under the SNLP scheme. The Blue Economy 2.0 scheme will be launched to restore and adapt coastal aquaculture and Mari-culture. Budget 2024 is though a prelude development to 2024 elections, it going to enable country to fulfill the cherished goal of achieving net zero carbon emission by 2070.Also as the climate change, resilience and sustainability remains to be main targets, harnessing green energy would enable and facilitate transition essential for energy security, incentivizing sustainable and timely response to become self- reliant.
Since J&K is an energy starved state with frequent and prolonged loading schedules and cuts.It is impeding economic growth and development in the state. The solarisation aimed in the budget is likely to benefit household about 18000 rupees every year and ensure sustained and cheap power besides selling the excess generation to the grid. It likely to boost and enable to provide electricity to economically poor and middle income group population through installation of rooftop also helping them to income from excess power generation.

Harnessing Solar Power in J&K

J&K possesses substantial potentials for generation green energy through solar power in addition to hydel power. Out of India’s 1490727 MW renewable energy potentials, J&K possess about 112803 MW constituting roughly 7.6 percent of the total potential renewable energy resources of the country. In 2014, about 17.28 percent, which increased to 44 percent was generated in India. The scenario of energy in J&K worse than that what prevails at National level where only about 3.2 percent energy is generated. Since India had committed to have in place 175000 MW of renewable energy capacity with 100000 MW of solar power. However, only 61000 MW have actually been installed. Overall, J&K has a requirement of about 2,800 MW of electricity. However, the power supply to the Kashmir division is 1200 MW and to Jammu division is 900 M Out of this 1,400 MW are made available from central and state generating agencies. JK UT is supplying about 2100 MW procuring additional 700 MW from the central power grid despite that J&K is unable to meet its energy requirement. The fiscal burden on account of purchase of additional power costs to the exchequer is Rs. 750 crores monthly which is expected go up toRs. 850 crores per month during the in peak season in J&K. Currently only about 1900 government building out of 20000 building have been covered the progress is not encouraging with respect to residential rooftop solar power installation till date.

Response and Responsibilities of Government

The constant surge in consumption of fossil fuel based energy is directly linked with appalling rise in GHG emissions. The clean energy transition is likely to craft structural changes in the generation profile and use of energy. Though J&K is expected to resolve the energy deficit, achieve energy security, reduce cost and can take lead in this sector, it can substantiate to the energy transition stressed in COP28 and C40 besides reducing dependence on supply oriented availability and reduce energy insecurity along with reduction carbon foot prints major reason for climate change. The initiatives were available prior to the interim budget but J&K government could not make any significant inroads to augment solar power despite provisions for subsidies, incentives, easy finance, technical assistance expertise. Therefore, poor performance in the solar sector is a worrying concern and signifying failure for not achieving the targets, needs to be reestablished and worked out to infuse momentum in solarisation. In response to policy of central government and increased budget outlays for the sector a comprehensive strategy needs to be framed to ensure adoption necessary institution structural changes with highly skilled/qualified manpower for renewable energy sector other than the hydel power which is mostly manned by electrical engineers’ sans policy makers to meet the requirement energy transition by 2070. To accomplish this goal, renewable energy experts in non hydel power sector need to be taken on board who would continuously pursue research and development in alternative sources of energy. Develop strategies for close interface reposing and create a trust based bond needed for incline and motivate households to adopt the roof top solar power for energy security and cheap power.
The J&K Government shall also take a leap forward and make concerted efforts to make renewable energy as a part of the education and research in the colleges and universities It shall also introduce professional degrees in renewable energy in all vocational institutions. This is inevitable for building a sturdy base for acceptability, accessibility and adoption of rooftop solar energy along with other sources of green energy. In the process it would supplement in achieving the green energy goals set at National level besides providing a much needed impetus to rooftop solar energy by taking it to every part of the J&K and ensure accomplishment of J&K energy goals. It will equip young generation with the skills, expertise and knowledge needed for the growing green job market, foster innovation in sustainable technologies and enable J&K address global environmental challenges. It can help in augmenting skilled workforce meeting the demand for experts in this sector and foster economic development. Additionally,it will promote awareness about the importance of renewable sources of energy, reduce carbon emission, contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future energy landscape in J&K.Government also needs to work out and evolve a more effective mechanism for covering maximum number of households especially from low and middle income groups through increased subsidies and incentives. Even it will be more encouraging to install rooftop for poor with hundred percent subsidy.

Bottom line

The interim budget focuses on renewable energy, it can potentially aid the proliferation of solar power in various ways. It can prove as a big bonanza for solar rooftop power as it includes incentives, subsidies, or tax breaks for individuals or businesses investing in solar rooftop installations, encourage research and development in solar technology. These measures are bound to inspire the adoption of clean and sustainable energy sources, aligning with environmental goals and promoting the growth of the solar power sector. Additionally, policy targets can help in identification and to exploit potential areas for rooftop solar power generation in India, ensuring that the country's diverse expanse with high solar potential is harnessed effectively for sustainable energy production besides meeting the target of energy transition by 2070.J&K need to act immediately not only for propagation of acceptability of rooftop solar energy but shall ensure a strong manpower for harnessing the renewable energy sources in addition to hydel power. It shall put in place appropriate quality control mechanism to ensure consumer satisfaction and to build trust and faith in energy transition because most of the beneficiary are hesitant to adopt it due to lack of clarity and proper outreach and interface.

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