The northeastern state of Assam is about to embark on a journey that will change the way it uses energy in the future because of its stunning natural beauty and wide variety of life forms. A fresh study from the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability, and Technology (iFOREST) says that Assam has a lot of potential for creating green energy (RE). For big jumps in RE to be possible, we can say right away that we need stronger institutions and better rules.
So, what does "green energy" mean? Why does everyone like it? Examples of renewable natural energy sources include the sun, wind, rain, waves, and geothermal heat. Unlike fossil fuels like coal and oil, which are limited, renewable energy sources are plentiful, safe for the environment, and help fight climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Yes, green energy is very important. To deal with the worsening effects of climate change, the world needs to switch to green energy sources. Renewable energy offers numerous benefits.
- Environmental Sustainability: Using green energy can help us lower our carbon footprint and lessen the bad effects of climate change and global warming. This fits in with attempts around the world to protect ecosystems and reach sustainable development goals.
- Energy Security: Geopolitical threats and price changes come with relying on fossil fuels. Renewable energy sources, due to their proximity and inexhaustibility, enhance energy security and reduce susceptibility to external energy supply issues.
- Economic Growth: The renewable energy industry has a lot of chances to create jobs, improve technology, and help the economy grow. Spending money on renewable energy facilities helps local economies grow and speeds up the move to a cleaner, more reliable energy system.
- Public Health: Burning fossil fuels pollutes the air and causes respiratory diseases. On the other hand, producing green energy is clean and makes places healthier, which is good for public health.
According to iFOREST's research, Assam has a lot of promise for renewable energy. The updated capacity surpasses previous estimates, positioning Assam as a frontrunner in the pursuit of sustainable energy alternatives. There are a lot of solar, wind, and biomass resources in the state, which makes the case for faster RE capacity growth very strong.
Expert Insights and Recommendations
APGCL's Managing Director, Bibhu Bhuyan, and Laya Madduri, the Secretary of the Department of Science, Technology, and Climate Change, are two experts who have stressed how important it is to speed up the growth of RE capacity. To meet its renewable energy responsibilities (RPOs) and keep energy secure, the state needs to add a lot of renewable energy (RE).
The study from iFOREST supports making sure that state policy goals are in line with changing needs, supporting a variety of RE projects, speeding up the approval process, making it easier for the private sector to invest, and offering incentives for people to adopt RE. Mandvi Singh, the Programme Director at iFOREST, discusses how Assam has the potential to significantly increase solar power and emphasises the need for targeted policy changes to foster growth in distributed RE and technological advancement.
Assam's full RE potential
There are good steps being taken to encourage investments in renewable energy, like the Assam Renewable Energy Policy 2022–27 and the Mukhya Mantri Souro Shakti Prokolpo programme. Getting Assam to use all of its renewable energy potential, though, will take a coordinated effort to fix structural problems, encourage more private sector involvement, and offer rewards for new ideas in all areas of renewable energy.
Overall, Assam is at a very important point in its energy change journey. Adopting green energy not only matches global sustainability goals, but it also boosts economic growth, protects public health, and makes energy more reliable. Experts concur that changing policies is necessary, but the collective call for action to build a better, more sustainable future for Assam and beyond resonates strongly.
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(Inputs from agencies)
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