Nuclear Energy: A Game Changer

Technology is turning out to be a critical factor in geopolitics of new world order. To understand the reality of "Where does india stand in the technology race", a holistic review in a series of articles has been attempted so that the "Media debates" with scientists, technologists and strategic experts provide a balanced perspective of india's ranking in various fields. Here is the fifth column in the series focusing on nuclear energy technologies

- GB Reddy

The key macro level issues pertaining to the "Nuclear Energy Technologies", as part of the electricity generating agencies, have been restricted to policy and decisionmaking levels to determine end objectives in pragmatic manner for the scientists and technologists to implement.

CLIMATE CRISIS AND NET ZERO COMMITMENT

India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement for the Period 2021-2030 include a commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030 from 2005 level; a resolve to achieve about 40 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030 with the help of transfer of technology and low cost international finance. We currently visualise a 450 GW renewable and 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030, both of which needs review.

LONG TERM GOAL

"24x7 power supply without interruption" is India's long term goal. Four factors must be taken into account while determining the end objectives to include: economic super power rise (7-8 percent annual GDP increase); population growth to 1.85 billion; at least 3-4 times increase of per capita consumption/demand (to reach world average of 3260 MWe); and climate change constraints.

As per the IEAs Energy Outlook 2021 released recently, India's energy consumption is expected to nearly double as GDP expands to an estimated $8.6 trillion by 2040 under its current national policy scenario. In particular, reducing fossil fuel consumption to 30 percent. Thus, the imperative for pragmatic analysis to identify and define end objectives for each field. Perhaps, the end objective of total installed capacity to be achieved by 2047 by conservative estimates be 600-700 GWe by 2030, and 1200 GWe by 2050, and by optimistic estimates to reach 1500 GWe by 2050.