1. Introduction – Why Renewable Energy (RE) Matters

• 75 % of global GHG emissions → energy sector
• India’s energy import bill FY-23: ~USD 190 bn (≈ 40 % of total imports)
• RE target 2030: 500 GW non-fossil capacity (PM Modi @ COP-26, 2 Nov 2021)
• Net-zero year pledged: 2070 (same venue)

2. India’s RE Capacity Snapshot (March-2024, MNRE)

*SHP = Small-hydro projects.

3. Global RE Facts (IRENA-2023)

• Total global RE power: 3.37 TW (2022)
• Top 3 countries (solar): China 261 GW, USA 118 GW, India 3rd
• Top 3 countries (wind): China 366 GW, USA 135 GW, India 4th
• Jobs: RE sector employs 13.7 million worldwide; India = 5 mn (2nd after China)

4. Important Programmes & Schemes

5. Milestones & Dates to Remember

• 1893 – First solar cell by Charles Fritts (USA)
• 1954 – Bell Labs (USA) modern silicon PV cell (6 % efficiency)
• 1986 – Danish wind turbine 1st offshore (Vindeby)
• 2003 – Gujarat becomes 1st state to announce solar policy
• 2011 – Saphire (TN) 1st Indian wind-solar hybrid project
• 2016 – Kamuthi (648 MW) world’s largest single-site solar, TN
• 2018 – 100 % electrified Indian village → Leisang (Manipur)
• 2020 – Rewa (750 MW) solar – 1st to supply Indian Railways (Delhi-RTDC)
• 2022 – India crosses 100 GW RE milestone (Sept)
• 2023 – Ladakh 10 GW ultra-mega solar park approved (world’s highest @ 4-5 k altitude)

6. State-wise RE Leaders (31-03-2024)

7. Key Organisations & Abbreviations

• MNRE – Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (formed 1992)
• IREDA – Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (1987)
• SECI – Solar Energy Corporation of India (2011)
• NIWE – National Institute of Wind Energy (Chennai)
• NISE – National Institute of Solar Energy (Gurugram)
• GWEC – Global Wind Energy Council
• IEA – International Energy Agency (HQ: Paris)

8. Technology Bytes

• Perovskite tandem solar cell lab record: 33.7 % (Oxford PV, 2023)
• Bladeless wind turbine (Spain) – 53 % less material, 14 % efficiency
• Floating solar – 1st MW-scale India: 1 MW (Rajasthan 2014)
• Green hydrogen cost target (India): < USD 1 per kg by 2030 (vs USD 5–6 now)
• Battery recycling target (India): 90 % recovery by 2030 under Battery Waste Rules 2022

9. Quick-Reference Table – Common Units

10. One-liner Rapid-Fire Facts

• India is 3rd largest RE producer, 4th largest wind producer.
• Largest wind turbine: 15 MW offshore (Vestas-V236, 2022).
• Highest solar irradiance in India: Rajasthan (≈ 5.7 kWh/m²/day).
• Cheapest RE auction India: ₹1.99/kWh (Gujarat, Dec 2020).
• Biogas – 1 m³ ≈ 5 kWh heat; 50 lakh family-type plants installed.
• Solar Park, Pavagada (Karnataka) – 2 GW, Asia’s largest single park.
• Greenpeace ranks Delhi as world’s worst for solar rooftop potential utilisation (2022).
• India’s 1st tidal plant proposed – Durgaduani, Sundarbans (3.75 MW).
• “One Sun, One World, One Grid” – India led initiative at COP-26.
• National Bio-energy Programme 2021: ₹858 cr for waste-to-energy & biogas.

11. Multiple-Choice Questions (Railway-style)

Q1. India’s non-fossil capacity target for 2030 is
A) 175 GW B) 350 GW C) 500 GW D) 750 GW
Answer: C

Q2. National Solar Mission was launched in
A) 2008 B) 2010 C) 2014 D) 2015
Answer: B

Q3. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) headquarters is located at
A) Bengaluru B) New Delhi C) Gurugram D) Pune
Answer: C

Q4. Which state has the highest installed solar capacity as of 2024?
A) Gujarat B) Rajasthan C) Tamil Nadu D) Maharashtra
Answer: B

Q5. India’s first 1 MW floating solar plant was commissioned in
A) Kerala B) Tamil Nadu C) Rajasthan D) Maharashtra
Answer: C

Q6. The cheapest solar tariff discovered in India (till 2024) is
A) ₹2.14 B) ₹1.99 C) ₹2.44 D) ₹2.63
Answer: B

Q7. Kamuthi solar park (648 MW) is situated in
A) Karnataka B) Andhra Pradesh C) Tamil Nadu D) Telangana
Answer: C

Q8. PM-KUSUM scheme mainly promotes
A) Solar street lights B) Solar pumps & feeder solarisation C) Solar rooftops D) Solar cookers
Answer: B

Q9. Green Hydrogen Mission aims to produce —— million tonnes per annum by 2030
A) 1 Mt B) 3 Mt C) 5 Mt D) 10 Mt
Answer: C

Q10. The largest wind power producing state in India is
A) Gujarat B) Tamil Nadu C) Karnataka D) Maharashtra
Answer: B

Q11. Which of the following is NOT a parameter of Solar Park Scheme?
A) Viability Gap Funding B) Transmission EVA C) Minimum 10 MW per park D) Battery storage mandatory
Answer: D

Q12. The organisation responsible for conducting wind-solar hybrid tenders is
A) NTPC B) NHPC C) SECI D) PGCIL
Answer: C

Q13. India’s first fully solar powered railway station is
A) Mumbai Central B) Howrah C) Guwahati D) Jaipur
Answer: C

Q14. “One Sun, One World, One Grid” initiative was announced at
A) COP-21 B) COP-22 C) COP-26 D) G-20 2023
Answer: C

Q15. The highest efficiency achieved by a commercial silicon solar cell is approximately
A) 12 % B) 20 % C) 26 % D) 33 %
Answer: C

Q16. The world’s largest off-shore wind farm (2024) is located in
A) USA B) UK C) China D) Denmark
Answer: B

Q17. Which of the following is classified as “must-run” power in India?
A) Coal B) Gas C) Renewable D) Diesel
Answer: C

Q18. IREDA was established in the year
A) 1985 B) 1987 C) 1991 D) 1995
Answer: B

Q19. The largest single-site solar park in Asia is
A) Bhadla B) Pavagada C) Rewa D) Kurnool
Answer: B

Q20. The average solar insolation in India is about
A) 3–4 kWh/m²/day B) 4–7 kWh/m²/day C) 7–9 kWh/m²/day D) >9 kWh/m²/day
Answer: B

12. 60-Second Revision Capsule

• 500 GW non-fossil by 2030; 2070 net-zero.
• 193 GW RE installed (Mar-24); Rajasthan = solar king, TN = wind king.
• NSM 2010 → 100 GW solar target; ISA HQ Gurugram; PM-KUSUM for pumps.
• Green Hydrogen Mission – 5 Mt/yr, ₹19,744 cr.
• Cheapest tariff ₹1.99/kWh; Pavagada 2 GW Asia biggest.
• Rewa solar → Indian Railways; Guwahati 1st solar railway stn.
• 1 GW offshore wind demo in Gujarat & TN.
• Perovskite cell 33 % lab; floating solar 1st in RR.
• IREDA 1987; SECI conducts bids; NIWE Chennai, NISE Gurugram.
• One Sun One World One Grid – India’s global grid dream!

Keep revising, keep shining – just like the sun that powers India’s future trains!