Renewable energy is one of the most promising solutions to the global challenges of climate change, energy security, and economic development. However, renewable energy technologies require rigorous testing and validation to ensure their performance, reliability, and safety. Testing also helps to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance customer confidence. In this article, we will explore the current status and future prospects of renewable sector testing in the global and Indian contexts.
Global Context
The global renewable energy market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% from 2020 to 2027, reaching $1.5 trillion by 2027. The main drivers of this growth are the increasing demand for clean energy, the declining costs of renewable technologies, and the supportive policies and regulations by governments and international organizations. However, the renewable energy sector also faces several challenges, such as grid integration, resource variability, quality assurance, and standardization.
To address these challenges, renewable sector testing plays a vital role in ensuring the quality and performance of renewable energy technologies across different stages of development, deployment, and operation. Testing can be classified into three types: laboratory testing, field testing, and certification testing.
- Laboratory testing involves testing the components and systems of renewable technologies under controlled conditions to evaluate their technical specifications, functionality, durability, and compatibility.
- Field testing involves testing the renewable technologies in real-world conditions to assess their performance, reliability, environmental impact, and socio-economic benefits.
- Certification testing involves verifying the compliance of renewable technologies with the relevant standards and regulations to obtain certification from accredited bodies.
There are various international standards and guidelines for renewable sector testing, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the World Bank. These standards and guidelines provide a common framework for testing methodologies, procedures, criteria, and requirements for different types of renewable technologies, such as solar photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines, bioenergy, hydropower, geothermal, marine energy, and hydrogen.
Some of the leading global organizations that provide renewable sector testing services are TÜV Rheinland, UL, DNV GL, SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, Kiwa, and CSA Group. These organizations offer a wide range of testing services for various renewable technologies across different regions and markets. They also provide certification services for renewable technologies according to the international standards and regulations.
Indian Context
India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with a population of over 1.3 billion people and an energy demand that is projected to grow by 35% by 2030. India has also set ambitious targets for renewable energy development, aiming to achieve 175 GW of installed capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. India’s renewable energy potential is estimated at over 1,000 GW, with solar PV being the most dominant technology.
However, India also faces several challenges in its renewable energy sector, such as land availability, grid stability, financing constraints, policy uncertainty, and quality issues. Renewable sector testing is therefore essential for India to ensure the quality and performance of its renewable technologies and to achieve its renewable energy goals.
India has a well-established infrastructure for renewable sector testing, with several national laboratories, research institutes, and private organizations offering testing services for various renewable technologies.
Some of the prominent national laboratories are:
- National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE): NISE is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) that provides R&D, testing, and certification services for solar PV and solar thermal technologies.
- National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE): NIWE is an autonomous institute under MNRE that provides R&D, testing, and certification services for wind turbines, wind resource assessment, and offshore wind energy.
- National Institute of Bioenergy (NIBE): NIBE is an autonomous institute under MNRE that provides R&D, testing, and certification services for bioenergy technologies, such as biomass gasification, biogas, biofuels, and waste-to-energy.
- Alternate Hydro Energy Centre (AHEC): AHEC is a centre of excellence under the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee that provides R&D, testing, and consultancy services for small hydro power, pumped storage hydro power, and other water resources management technologies.
Some of the prominent research institutes are:
- Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET): C-WET is a research centre under MNRE that provides R&D, testing, and certification services for wind energy technologies, such as wind turbines, wind resource assessment, and wind-solar hybrid systems.
- Solar Energy Centre (SEC): SEC is a research centre under MNRE that provides R&D, testing, and certification services for solar energy technologies, such as solar PV, solar thermal, and solar cooling.
- Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Research Institute (SPRERI): SPRERI is a non-governmental organization that provides R&D, testing, and consultancy services for renewable energy technologies, such as bioenergy, solar energy, and energy efficiency.
Some of the prominent private organizations are:
- Mahindra Susten: Mahindra Susten is a leading renewable energy company that provides testing and inspection services for solar PV projects, such as design validation, quality assurance, performance evaluation, and O&M optimization.
- ReGen Powertech: ReGen Powertech is a leading wind energy company that provides testing and inspection services for wind turbines and wind farms, such as design validation, quality assurance, performance evaluation, and O&M optimization.
- UL India: UL India is a subsidiary of UL that provides testing and certification services for renewable energy technologies, such as solar PV, wind turbines, inverters, batteries, and smart grid components.
India has also adopted various national standards and regulations for renewable sector testing, such as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), and the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs). These standards and regulations provide the technical specifications, performance criteria, safety requirements, and grid codes for different types of renewable technologies and projects.
How does India compare to other countries in renewable energy development?
India is one of the leading countries in renewable energy development, ranking third globally for total renewable power capacity additions with 15.4 GW in 2021. India also ranked third in the EY’s Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) in July 2021, behind USA and China. India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy development, aiming to achieve 175 GW of installed capacity by 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. India’s renewable energy potential is estimated at over 1,000 GW, with solar PV being the most dominant technology.
However, India also faces several challenges in its renewable energy sector, such as land availability, grid stability, financing constraints, policy uncertainty, and quality issues. Renewable sector testing is therefore essential for India to ensure the quality and performance of its renewable technologies and to achieve its renewable energy goals.
According to the web search results, India compares favourably to other countries in renewable energy development in terms of installed capacity, market attractiveness, and policy support. However, India also lags behind some countries in terms of renewable energy share in total energy consumption, grid integration, and innovation. India needs to address the existing barriers and gaps in its renewable energy sector and to leverage the opportunities and advantages it has in terms of resources, technology, and human capital.
What are some of the challenges that India faces in its renewable energy sector?
Some of the challenges that India faces in its renewable energy sector are:
- Off-taker risk: This refers to the risk of default or delay in payment by the power purchasers, such as distribution companies (DISCOMs), which affects the financial viability and bankability of renewable energy projects. Off-taker risk is exacerbated by the poor financial health and operational inefficiency of many DISCOMs, which suffer from high aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses, low tariffs, and delayed subsidy payments.
- Lack of infrastructure: This refers to the inadequate transmission and distribution network, grid stability, and energy storage capacity, which limit the integration and evacuation of renewable energy into the grid. Lack of infrastructure also hampers the access and availability of renewable energy for remote and rural areas, where grid extension is costly and challenging.
- Lack of financial intermediaries: This refers to the scarcity of financial institutions and instruments that can provide long-term, low-cost, and risk-adjusted capital for renewable energy projects. Lack of financial intermediaries also affects the availability of credit enhancement mechanisms, such as guarantees, insurance, and bonds, which can reduce the perceived risks and costs of renewable energy investments.
- Lack of investor understanding: This refers to the low awareness and knowledge of renewable energy technologies, markets, policies, and regulations among potential investors, such as domestic banks, institutional investors, and foreign investors. Lack of investor understanding also affects the valuation and appraisal of renewable energy projects, which may result in higher interest rates, shorter tenors, and stricter collateral requirements.
What is the current status of renewable energy in India?
- According to the web search results, the current status of renewable energy in India is as follows:
- India is the world’s 3rd largest consumer of electricity and world’s 3rd largest renewable energy producer with 40% of energy capacity installed in the year 2022 (160 GW of 400 GW) coming from renewable sources.
- India is also the 3rd largest country in terms of renewable power capacity additions, with 15.4 GW added in 20212. India ranked 3rd in the EY’s Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) in July 2021, behind USA and China.
- India has set an enhanced target at the COP26 of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030, which is the world’s largest expansion plan in renewable energy. India’s renewable energy potential is estimated at over 1,000 GW, with solar PV being the most dominant technology.
- India has a well-established infrastructure for renewable sector testing, with several national laboratories, research institutes, and private organizations offering testing services for various renewable technologies. India has also adopted various national standards and regulations for renewable sector testing, such as the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), and the State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs).
India has introduced the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme in High Efficiency Solar PV Modules for Enhancing India’s Manufacturing Capabilities and Enhancing Exports – Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The scheme has an outlay of INR 24,000 Cr (US$ 2.9 Bn) and targets 65 GW of annual manufacturing capacity2. India has also launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission with an outlay of INR 19,744 Cr (US$ 2.4 Bn) and targets 5 MMT annual green hydrogen/ ammonia production by 2030.
These are some of the highlights of the current status of renewable energy in India
Pros and Cons
Renewable sector testing has several advantages and disadvantages for the renewable energy sector.
Some of the pros are:
- Testing improves the quality and performance of renewable technologies, which enhances their efficiency, reliability, and durability.
- Testing reduces the costs and risks of renewable technologies, which increases their competitiveness, profitability, and attractiveness for investors and customers.
- Testing ensures the compliance of renewable technologies with the relevant standards and regulations, which facilitates their market access, acceptance, and adoption.
- Testing supports the innovation and development of renewable technologies, which fosters their technological advancement, diversification, and integration.
- Some of the cons are:
- Testing requires significant time, resources, and expertise, which may pose challenges for the availability, affordability, and accessibility of testing services.
- Testing may involve technical complexities, uncertainties, and variations, which may affect the accuracy, consistency, and comparability of testing results.
- Testing may face regulatory barriers, gaps, and conflicts, which may hinder the harmonization, coordination, and cooperation of testing activities across different regions and markets.
- Testing may create ethical issues, such as data privacy, security, and ownership, which may raise concerns for the transparency, accountability, and responsibility of testing stakeholders.
Future Conclusion
Renewable sector testing is a crucial component of the renewable energy sector that contributes to its growth, development, and sustainability. Renewable sector testing is expected to evolve in the future with the emergence of new trends, opportunities, and challenges in the renewable energy sector. Some of the future aspects of renewable sector testing are:
- Testing will become more digitalized, automated, and intelligent with the adoption of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), big data analytics, blockchain, internet of things (IoT), cloud computing, drones, robots, sensors, etc.
- Testing will become more integrated, holistic, and systemic with the development of new concepts, such as smart grids, microgrids, distributed generation, hybrid systems, energy storage systems (ESS), power-to-x (P2X), etc.
- Testing will become more customized, flexible, and adaptive with the diversification of customer needs and preferences such as prosumers peer-to-peer (P2P) trading demand response etc.
Renewable sector testing will therefore play a key role in shaping the future of renewable energy sector in both global and Indian contexts. Renewable sector testing will help to ensure the quality performance and compliance of renewable technologies as well as to support their innovation development and integration. Renewable sector testing will also help to create a more sustainable secure and inclusive energy system for all.
