New Delhi: On Monday (July 14), the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced that 50% of India’s installed electricity capacity comes from non-fossil fuel sources, a milestone it has achieved five years ahead of schedule.As per its latest NDCs (nationally determined contributions, which are voluntary targets set up by countries to tackle climate change through actions such as cutting down on carbon emissions) under the United Nations’ Paris Agreement submitted in August 2022, India had committed to achieving 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030, among other things.A statement by the MNRE on July 14 said that as on June 30 this year, 49.92% of India’s electricity capacity comprised thermal power, 48.27% of power from renewable energy sources, and 1.81% of nuclear power, producing 242 gigawatts (GW), 224 GW and 8.78 GW of power respectively.Of the renewable energy sources, large hydropower projects accounted for 10.19% (49.38 GW), while 38.08% (184.62 GW) came from renewable energy such as solar and wind power.So adding up nuclear and renewable energy sources, India’s non-fossil fuel-based installed electricity capacity is now 50.08% (of a total 484.82 GW of electricity generated).According to the MNRE, this “early achievement” is “an opportunity to aim even higher” and that India’s energy transition must now “prioritise quality, equity and resilience in clean energy access”.“Key focus areas include doubling per capita clean electricity consumption, especially in rural and underserved regions, by promoting distributed renewable systems and energy-efficient appliances,” the press statement read.India has been able to achieve the 50% mark in non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity thanks to government programmes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) that has supplied farmers with solar-powered facilities including water pumps, per the MNRE.“These initiatives have not only decarbonised the power sector but have also delivered widespread co-benefits – enhanced energy access, employment generation, reduced air pollution, better public health outcomes and stronger rural incomes. India’s clean energy revolution is as much about inclusive growth and social justice as it is about reducing emissions,” the statement said.Incidentally, there are many cases where local communities that have given up their private and common lands for renewable energy projects in India have not been able to access power for even basic needs.In Pavagada in Karnataka, for instance, reports such as this one by Mongabay India have highlighted how one of the largest solar parks in Asia which is located in this village has sparked social, ecological and environmental concerns, including a decline in biodiversity that locals have noticed.Citing such examples, scientists have also argued that renewable energy projects need not necessarily be clean or green just because they harness energy from sources such as the wind and sun.India submitted its first NDC in 2015, promising to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33% to 35% by 2030 from 2005 levels, and that it would achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.In December 2023, the Indian government said that it had achieved both these targets.