Stories
India Must Slash Oil, Gas Reliance, Boost Renewables: Power Secretary
N
News18•24-09-2026, 13:45
India Must Slash Oil, Gas Reliance, Boost Renewables: Power Secretary
- •Pankaj Agarwal, Secretary-Ministry of Power, emphasized India's urgent need to reduce dependence on oil and gas and accelerate the shift to renewable energy for enhanced energy security.
- •Recent developments around the Strait of Hormuz underscore the necessity to transition away from fossil fuels, making renewables crucial for India's energy future.
- •The growing share of renewable energy requires India to address variability and build greater flexibility in its power system, both on supply and demand sides.
- •Battery storage costs have significantly dropped from Rs 10 per unit in 2023 to Rs 4 per unit currently, making storage solutions more viable.
- •India is developing a roadmap for 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 and implementing 16,000 MW of pumped storage projects to enhance grid stability and energy security.
Key Questions Answered
India is accelerating its transition toward renewable energy sources like solar, wind, biomass, nuclear power, and coal to bolster national energy security. Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal highlighted that recent developments around the Strait of Hormuz emphasized the urgent need to move away from oil and gas wherever feasible.
The economics of the power sector have shifted significantly over a three-year period, with battery storage costs declining from approximately Rs 10 per unit in 2023 to about Rs 4 per unit currently.
India is actively working on developing a structured roadmap to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by the year 2047.
