India eyes offshore wind power to become carbon-neutral by 2070

The Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Francesco La Camera, told the media that India's focus on decarbonising its steel industry and developing offshore wind power will help it become carbon neutral by 2070.

La Camera said India was also on track to reach its 2030 net-zero emissions commitment to producing 50% of its energy from non-fossil fuels.

PM Narendra Modi has raised India's nationally determined contribution (NDC) goal of non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 from its recent 151 GW.

India's onshore wind capacity is over 40 GW, and grid-connected or centralised solar power capacity is around 60 GW.

According to the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), India is already exploring pilot projects in offshore wind power but unlikely to enter that space until after 2030 as the technology is still expensive.

La Camera said the government expects green hydrogen made from water and clean electricity to power sectors, like steel, that find it difficult to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

He also emphasised the need to set up standards and certification as India begins exporting green hydrogen with Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), Adani Enterprises, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited and Indian Oil Corporation, setting out manufacturing plans.

India plans to produce 5 million tonnes (mt) of green hydrogen annually by 2030 to meet its climate targets and become a global production and export hub for fuel.

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