Need a green revolution in the energy sector

New Delhi: Does it make good business to be green? In times of a clamour over global warming, it does. A conference by Greenpeace India and CyberMedia on ‘Decarbonising Economy’ put the spotlight on renewable energy which could effectively power India’s growth, supported by a robust IT system. ‘Green’ businessmen and women, representatives from the Government of India, IT companies and environment campaigners were present at the conference held in New Delhi on February 8, 2012. 

V. Subramanian (left) launches the Cool IT leaderboard report in the presence of Shamit Aich, Executive Director, Greenpeace India/ Photo credit: Greenpeace India

The fifth version of the ‘Cool IT Leaderboard’ report, prepared by Greenpeace, was launched by V. Subramanian, Secretary General, Indian Wind Energy Association. The Cool IT leaderboard evaluates top IT companies on their efforts to provide economy-wide climate solutions, reduce emissions from their own operations, and lobby for science -based climate and energy policies. The report says that search engine giant Google takes the lead followed by Cisco and Ericsson in for political advocacy and for sourcing renewable energy for their infrastructure. Indian software giant Wipro remains in the top 10, for reducing its carbon emissions, developing strong mitigation strategies and having an explicit position on the National Solar Mission. 

India has invoked criticism from international pockets for being the third-largest emitter of green house gases. Coal still accounts for nearly 64% of India’s energy production. Fossil fuels continue to be subsidised. Despite all efforts, 400 million Indians continue to live in darkness. Experts at the conference said that the compelling answer to the energy poverty is to move towards renewable energy solutions, which are profitable for the producers (corporates) and affordable for the common man. 

The conclave established affirmative role of corporate leadership in sustainable, equitable and green growth. “A third industrial revolution is in the making, this time in renewable energy,” said Prasanto K. Roy, Chief Editor, CyberMedia. “In the 11th Plan period, the overall contribution of renewable energy to power generation was 25%,” noted Subramanian. India has 15,000 MW of wind power capacity and solar power and the need of the hour is to stop relying on subsidies and integrate them into the mainstream energy generation and distribution. “The 800 million user base of telecom sector in India was not subsidised. Why can’t we replicate telecom revolution in renewable energies?” Subramanian posed the very challenging question. 

“Renewables play a very important role in moving ahead for an equitable 8-9% GDP growth,” remarked Shamit Aich, Executive Director, Greenpeace India.  The existing renewable resources provide the best opportunity to marry growth with equity through community based rural clean energy solutions, he added. 

Buisness models could be based on the same lines, make profits and also promote clean energy. The good news is, this is already happening on the ground. Pakistan-based Buksh Foundation is working to provide solar energy to run domestic appliances in villages through micro-lending - a profitable business. In India, Husk Power Systems is taking electricity, produced from rice husk, to remote villages in the state of Bihar.

Magsaysay Award winner Harish Hande’s Selco India has lit up over 1,20,000 households, to emerge as India's leading solar technology firm.

Participants at the business enclave unanimously pitched for establishing renewable energy targets within the Plan framework, boosting public investment for research and development and establishing a green fund for sustainable growth. After all, renewable energy can provide clean energy and help India meet its Energy for All goal as well.