In a significant move towards modernizing energy infrastructure, the central government is gearing up to prioritise advancements in the electricity sector in the upcoming 2024-25 budget, with a strong focus on renewable energy sources. Anujesh Dwivedi, partner at Deloitte India, mentioned that the government aims to localise the manufacturing base for solar, hydrogen, and batteries, influenced by global geopolitical shifts post-COVID19.
According to Dwivedi, it is expected that the budget will strengthen the government's commitment to these sectors by further supporting local manufacturing capabilities aligned with global energy transition trends.
The government's upcoming fiscal policies are anticipated to emphasize the resilience of electricity infrastructure, aiming to mitigate the impacts of increasingly severe weather events linked to climate change. This includes significant allocations towards digitizing electrical grids to facilitate the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and enhance capacity to manage peak demands.
India, having achieved a milestone of adding 18 GW of solar capacity in FY24, faces the challenge of scaling up annual renewable energy capacity to approximately 50 GW to achieve a 2030 target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel generation. Dwivedi noted that expanding renewable capacity on this scale requires not only continuing existing initiatives but also a focused effort, particularly towards corporate contributions to renewable energy and offshore wind projects.
The budget is also expected to highlight emerging energy technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs), green hydrogen, and Nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), deemed crucial for enhancing India's energy security and reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Dwivedi indicated that investments in the upcoming budget are likely to include substantial support for improving transmission and distribution infrastructure. This will be accompanied by strategic measures to digitize the grid, enhancing its capability to manage the requirements of a modern, decentralized energy system.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget for FY25 on July 23, following a Budget session starting on July 22 and concluding on August 12.
