India’s energy transition faces scrutiny over ecological and economic concerns

By A Representative 

In a letter addressed to Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Manohar Lal, and Bhupender Yadav, power and climate policy analyst Shankar Sharma has raised critical concerns about India’s renewable energy policies, urging a shift toward sustainable and economically viable energy storage solutions. Timed with VijayaDashami greetings, Sharma’s letter highlights a paradox in India’s energy sector, questioning recent ministerial claims of achieving 250 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity and offering round-the-clock renewable energy at globally unmatched rates.

Sharma emphasized the need for a strategic reassessment of India’s energy storage priorities, particularly the preference for Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) over Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). “The strategic selection between PSP and BESS should be guided by comprehensive assessments of technical feasibility, economic viability, environmental sustainability, and larger policy implications,” Sharma stated. He pointed to a detailed discussion paper outlining the ecological risks of PSPs, including biodiversity loss and forest degradation in fragile river valleys, while advocating for BESS as a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative, with a lower levelized cost of storage (Rs 3.8–4.1 per kWh compared to Rs 9.5–14.9 for PSP).

The letter critiques the government’s focus on large-scale PSPs and nuclear projects, noting a reported 44 GW of renewable energy ready but lacking demand due to absent Power Purchase Agreements, alongside the revocation of grid access for 17 GW of clean energy projects. Sharma also referenced a recent IIT Kharagpur study revealing declining forest health in India, particularly in the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas, warning that large-scale green energy projects risk exacerbating environmental degradation. “People of this country will consider it a serious let down if authorities show indifference to a holistic approach intricately linked to the flora, fauna, and general environment,” he added.

Sharma called for policy reforms to prioritize distributed renewable sources and BESS, supported by smart grids and grid-forming inverters, urging collaboration among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and environmental experts to align energy goals with conservation efforts. He requested critical feedback from the ministries on the discussion paper, underscoring its ecological significance.