Study flags land, water challenges in scaling renewables beyond 1,500 GW

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Scaling India’s renewables beyond 1,500 giga watts (GW) will face considerable land, water, population, and climate challenges, according to a report published by Delhi-based think tank 'Council on Energy, Environment and Water' (CEEW).

The independent study released on September 10 noted that India has a renewable energy (RE) potential of over 24,000 GW, but even reaching 7,000 GW will require a holistic approach to addressing these issues.

The study titled 'Unlocking India’s RE and Green Hydrogen Potential: An Assessment of Land, Water, and Climate Nexus' highlights that scaling up renewable energy will require strategic land use, improved water management, and resilient power grid infrastructure.

India currently has an installed RE capacity of 150 GW; the government has set a target of attaining 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, for which it will award 50 GW of renewable energy projects annually.

The study points out that onshore wind has potential of generating 1,790 GW energy, with 66 percent situated on croplands, making land acquisition a challenge, while offshore wind potential is 2,435 GW, but only 30 percent is in waters shallower than 500 meters, requiring advanced floating turbine technology for deeper waters. Additionally, solar energy potential stands at 20,270 GW, though 17,802 GW faces high seasonality challenges, affecting consistent energy generation.

"While our RE potential is vast, the road to net zero is fraught with challenges. From land conflicts and population density to the unpredictable but undeniable impact of climate change, every step forward will demand resilience and innovation," said CEEW chief executive officer Dr Arunabha Ghosh.

According to the repot, a considerable portion of India’s RE potential is in high-climate-risk and high-land-price areas. Only 18 percent of onshore wind potential and 22 percent of solar potential are located in areas with low climate risks and low land prices, when looked at in isolation.

“Land and water are critical resources for scaling up RE and green hydrogen in India. Prevention of desertification and innovative solutions to address land availability, such as agro-voltaics in horticulture and rooftop solar in dense Indian cities, will be essential. Moreover, as RE projects move into areas with higher climate risks, insurance companies could increasingly hesitate to provide coverage," said CEEW fellow Hemant Mallya.

The study identifies states such as  Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Ladakh as ones that have high unconstrained RE potential. "The cost hurdle might be lower in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, which have 10,000 GW+ of solar potential together. But note that the cost of wind power in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh is higher, meaning that the trade-off between wind and solar continues," the report added.

The CEEW study highlighted that Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, with high RE potential backed by land banks and infrastructure to evacuate renewable power and manage seasonality, could emerge as key players in meeting India’s renewable energy ambitions in the coming decades.