Lok Sabha Question No. 463 (STARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Clean Energy for Economic Growth
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *463 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03 rd  APRIL 2025

## CLEAN ENERGY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH

## *463. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE: SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

## पेĚोͧलयम और Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether clean energy is projected to be a key factor in India's economic development and in addressing the needs of its population, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has been pitching for clean energy cooking fuel innovations and extended open invitation to the entrepreneurs for the said purpose;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  details  of  the  existing  gas-based  economy  of  the  country  as  on  date  along  with  the details of targets, if any, fixed by the Government for its future expansion;
- (e) the details of corrective steps taken/being taken by the Government for developing nation wide gas grid and other infrastructure required for achieving such targets; and
- (f) the details of expenditure likely to  be incurred for developing such national assets along with the details of funds allocated and released so far by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## पेĚोͧलयम और Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी ( Įी हरदȣप ͧसंह पुरȣ )

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

(a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *463 TO BE ANSWERED  ON  03.04.2025 REGARDING  'CLEAN  ENERGY  FOR  ECONOMIC  GROWTH'  ASKED  BY  SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE AND SMT BHARTI PARDHI

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(a) Yes, Clean energy occupies a pivotal place in Government's efforts for meeting increasing energy  demand.  As  per  Energy  Institute's  Statistical  Review  of  World  Energy  2024,  India currently consumes about 6.3% of World Primary Energy (2023) which would reach 12.5% of the World's Primary Energy by 2050. Further, as per BP Energy Outlook, 2023, Renewable energy consumption will grow at an average of 4-6% a year in India and it will become the major source of primary energy for India in 2050.

India's energy demand is increasing continuously due to sustained economic growth over the last many  years.  India  currently  has  an  average  GDP  growth  rate  of  6.5%  with  a  USD  4  trillion economy. As per the IEA's World Energy Outlook, 2024, India will have the highest increase in energy demand than any other country over the next decade mainly because of its size and the scale  of  rising  demand  from  all  sectors.  Industrialisation,  urbanisation,  enhanced  transportation needs,  high  capital  expenditure  for  creation  of  infrastructure  and  improvements  in  standard  of living are contributing to the rapid increase in energy demand.

At the 26th session of Conference of the Parties (COP 26), Glasgow, in November 2021, Hon'ble Prime Minister presented five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of India's climate action  which interalia included achieving 500GW of Non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030 and achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2070. India is the first G20 country to meet its Paris commitments. As on 28.02.2025, a total of 222.86 GW non-fossil power capacity has been installed against a target of 500 GW in the country which includes 102.57 GW solar power, 48.59 GW wind power, 11.45 GW bio-power, 52.07 GW hydro  power  and  8.18  GW  nuclear  power.  Further,  the  share  of  non-fossil  power  in  the  total installed electricity capacity in the country has increased from 31.53% in 2014 to 47.37% as of now.

India's  strong  commitment  to  clean  energy  is  also  being  propelled  by  Ethanol  Blending  Petrol Programme, Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN scheme, Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) ecosystem, National Hydrogen Mission, etc.

As  a  green  fuel,  Ethanol  supports  the  environmental  sustainability  efforts  of  the  Government. Government have been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme to reduce import dependence on crude oil while saving foreign exchange and promote domestic agriculture sector. National Policy on  Biofuels - 2018, as amended in 2022, inter-alia, advanced the target of 20% blending of ethanol in petrol to ESY 2025-26 from 2030. Interventions by the Government have led to increased ethanol blending with petrol from 38 crore litres in ESY 2013-14 to 707 crore litres in ESY 2023-24. In February 2025, ethanol blending of 19.68% has already been achieved.

In 2019, the Government notified the Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN (Jaiv Indhan - Vatavaran Anukool fasal awashesh Nivaran) Yojana 2019, amended in 2024, to provide financial support for setting

up Advanced Biofuels projects in the country using lignocellulosic biomass and other renewable feedstock. Further, towards decarbonizing of the aviation sector, Government has approved 1% Sustainable  Aviation  Fuel  (SAF)  indicative  blending  target  in  2027  (initially  for  International flights).

To  promote  CBG,  Government  have  initiated  various  schemes  like  Sustainable  Alternative Towards  Affordable  Transportation  (SATAT),  financial  assistance for  procurement  of  Biomass Aggregation  Machinery (BAM) and scheme for the development of pipeline infrastructure (DPI) for transportation of CBG into the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network. With these initiatives, 94 CBG plants, which include a major share by private entrepreneurs, with production capacity of about 650 TPD (tonnes per day) have already been commissioned and another 75 CBG plants with production capacity of about 550 TPD are in different stages of construction.

The  Ministry  of  New  and  Renewable  Energy  is  implementing  the  National  Green  Hydrogen Mission, with an objective to make India a global hub of production, usage, and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. Government have launched several initiatives  under the Mission, including  scheme  guidelines  for  incentive  schemes  for  production  of  Green  Hydrogen  and electrolyser  manufacturing  under  the  Strategic  Interventions  for  Green  Hydrogen  Transition (SIGHT) Programme.

(b)  to  (c) Government have promoted the use of LPG and Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for clean domestic cooking fuel. To promote LPG as a clean cooking fuel, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May 2016, to  provide deposit  free  LPG connection  to adult  women from  poor  households.  As  on  01.03.2025,  there  are  more  than  10.33  crore  LPG  connections released under PMUY scheme and about 33 crore LPG active domestic customers. As a result of various initiatives, LPG coverage in the country has improved from 62% in April 2016 to near saturation as of now. Piped Natural Gas (PNG) is being supplied through pipeline for domestic cooking and as of January 2025, the authorized entities have provided 1.44 crore PNG Domestic (PNG  (D))  connections.  With  an  aim  to  further  create  environmentally  sustainable  cooking solutions, OMCs are also working on innovative solutions and encouraging start ups to provide new age solutions like Ethanol and Solar cook stoves.

(d)  to  (f) The  Government  have  targeted  to  increase  the  share  of  natural  gas  in  the  Primary Energy Mix from the current level of 6% to 15% by 2030. Various steps taken by the Government in this direction include expansion of National Gas Grid Pipeline & City Gas Distribution (CGD) network,  setting  up  of  Liquefied  Natural  Gas  (LNG)  Terminals,  allocation  of  domestic  gas  to Compressed Natural Gas (Transport) / Piped Natural Gas (Domestic) CNG(T)/PNG(D) as priority sector, allowing marketing and pricing freedom with a ceiling price to gas produced from high pressure/high temperature areas, deep water & ultra-deep water and from coal seams etc.

After completion of 12/12A CGD bidding round Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has authorized entities for the development of CGD network in 307 Geographical Areas (GAs), covering almost 100% of the mainland area for the development of CGD network across the  country.  As  per  Minimum  Work  Programme  target,  authorized  entities  have  to  provide approx. 12.6 crore PNG connections and establish 18,336 CNG stations by 2034. As on January 25, the authorized entities have established 7594 CNG stations.

With  the  aim  to  create  a  National  Gas  Grid  (One  Nation,  One  Gas  Grid)  and  increase  the availability  of  natural  gas  across  the  country,  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  Regulatory  Board (PNGRB)  has  authorised  approximately  33,475  km  natural  gas  pipeline  network  across  the country out of which 25,124 km of natural gas pipeline including spur lines, tie-in connectivity,

Sub-Transmission Pipelines (STPL) and dedicated pipelines are already operational and a total of 10,676  km  length  of  pipelines  are  under  various  stages  of  construction.    These  pipelines  are constructed by the various project proponents from their own funds keeping in view the technical and commercial feasibility following the various regulatory approvals. Further, Government have also approved (September 2016) Viability Gap Funding of 40% Capital Grant (Rs 5,176 crore) for Jagdishpur-Haldia/Bokaro-Dhamra  Natural  Gas  Pipeline  (JHBDPL)  project  and  60%  (Rs  5559 crore) VGF for North East Gas Grid (NEGG) project (January 2020), as the critical constituents of the National Gas Grid.

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