Why in news:
Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in partnership with the International Solar Alliance, unveiled the report on 'Roadmap of Solar Energy for Universal Energy Access' developed under India's G20 presidency in 2023 showcases how solar energy can play a key role in achieving electricity access and providing socio-economic benefits globally.
The roadmap is unveiled during the 4th G20 Energy Transition Working Group held in Goa. It focuses on achieving Universal Energy Access by 2030 and highlighted the crucial role of solar mini grids in driving sustainable energy solutions.

Current Renewable Energy scenario:  
India currently has a total renewable energy capacity of 168.96 GW (as on 28th February 2023) with about 82 GW at various stages of implementation and about 41 GW under tendering stage. This includes 64.38 GW Solar Power, 51.79 GW Hydro Power, 42.02 GW Wind Power and 10.77 GW Bio Power.

Global energy Demand:  
9% of the global population still lack access to electricity. If the current growth rate continues, approximately 660 million people, accounting for 8% of the global population, will still be without electricity by 2030. Additionally, over 1.9 billion people will need clean cooking access by 2030. Sub-Saharan Africa and rural areas face the most acute energy access challenges. 

How Solar Energy bridges the gap:
Solar energy combined with battery storage is emerging as the optimal choice for electrification, especially in places which are at a distance away from the grid. It offers technical, financial, and social benefits. A combination of electrification approaches centred on solar energy can be deployed to address energy access challenges in different situations
 
Roadmap of Solar Energy for Universal Energy Access: 
·         The road map emphasises solar energy as a critical solution for achieving universal access to energy by 2030.
·         It identifies approximately 59% (396 million people) of the unelectrified population that would benefit most from electrification via solar-powered minigrids.
·         Approximately 30% of the un-electrified population (203 million people) can be electrified via utility extensions, while the remaining 11% (77 million people) can be electrified via Decentralised Renewable Energy solutions.
·         Solar-based mini-grids, solar-based decentralised renewable energy solutions, and grid extensions will require a combined investment of approximately USD 192 billion to achieve the electrification objectives.
·         Mini-grid deployment requires financing for the viability gap of approximately 50% (USD 48,5 billion).
·         The road map emphasises the significance of addressing policy, regulation, and financial risks in scaling up solar energy solutions successfully and sustainably.
·         It emphasises the need for technical and financial expertise, skill development, and awareness creation in regions with insufficient access to energy in order to drive electrification initiatives.
·         To accelerate ubiquitous energy access, the report advocates for increased investments, ecosystem development, and optimal resource utilisation.
·         Integration of solar PV-based culinary solutions with electrification initiatives is highlighted as a means to increase energy access in remote and underdeveloped regions.

What exactly are Solar Mini-grids?  
Solar mini-grids are small-scale electricity generation and distribution systems that generate and store electricity using solar photovoltaic (PV) technology and batteries.
Typically, they are intended to provide electricity to communities or regions that require connection to the main power grid or experience frequent power disruptions.
About 9 percent of the world's population still does not have access to electricity, with Sub-Saharan Africa and rural areas being the most afflicted.
By providing reliable and affordable electricity to these communities, solar minigrids can play a significant role in addressing this issue.
In addition, more than 1.9 billion people worldwide lack access to clean cooking, and solar mini-grids can also power electric stoves and other culinary appliances, thereby providing solutions for clean cooking.

Advantages of Solar Mini-grids:  
With the aid of energy storage systems, solar energy provides a reliable source of electricity that is resilient during natural disasters and power disruptions.
Solar energy is a pure and renewable energy source that helps mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar minigrids can be scaled up or down based on the energy demand of the community, making them a flexible energy access option.
Solar Mini-grids Solar energy is an affordable alternative to diesel generators in remote regions or on islands, where expensive petroleum transportation can result in electricity costs as high as Rs. 36 per unit.
Utilising solar energy is a sustainable and cost-effective way to reduce electricity costs in these regions.
Feed-in Tariffs and tariff restructuring for grid-connected capacity support the deployment of decentralised solar, and the anticipated reduction in battery costs as a result of large-scale procurement bolsters the development of solar minigrids.

What are the Obstacles to Solar Energy Deployment for Universal Energy Access?  
Absence of policies and regulations that can facilitate the deployment of solar energy for universal energy access.
For sustained affordability, challenges in equipment manufacturing, on-site execution, and maintenance must be addressed.
Monthly dust accumulation on solar panels can reduce their output by up to 30 percent, necessitating routine cleansing.
Current water-based cleaning methods consume approximately 10 billion gallons of water per year, whereas waterless cleaning methods are labor-intensive and damage surfaces.
High financial risks in underdeveloped regions increase project costs for developers, thereby widening the affordability disparity between consumers and suppliers.
Implementing and maintaining solar mini-grids requires additional financial and technical expertise.
 
What are the Government Schemes to Enhance Solar Energy Production in India? 
International Solar Alliance (ISA):
Co-founded by India and France during 2015 during the UN Climate Change Conference, the ISA is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies.
Its basic motive is to facilitate energy access, ensure energy security, and drive energy transition in its member countries.
ISA is the nodal agency for implementing One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), which seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.
Headquarters:
The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
Member Nations:
A total of 109 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement and 90 have ratified it.
All member states of the United Nations are eligible to join the ISA.
Observer Status to International Solar Alliance:
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has granted Observer Status to the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
It will help provide for regular and well-defined cooperation between the Alliance and the United Nations that would benefit global energy growth and development.

SDG 7:  
Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) calls for “affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” by 2030. It’s three core targets are the foundation for our work: By 2030:
Target
7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services
7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency
7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
7.b: By 2030, expand infrastructure and upgrade technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services for all in developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States, and land-locked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of support.

PROGRESS AND INFO  
Access to electricity and clean cooking fuels has improved in many parts of the world, but 675 million people are yet to be connected to the grids and 2.3 billion are still cooking with unsafe and polluting fuels. The war in Ukraine and global economic uncertainty continue to cause significant volatility in energy prices, leading some countries to raise investments in renewables and others to increase reliance on coal, putting the green transition at risk. If the current pace continues, about 660 million people will still lack access to electricity and close to 2 billion people will continue to rely on polluting fuels and technologies for cooking by 2030. To ensure access to energy for all by 2030, we must accelerate electrification, increase investments in renewable energy sources and invest in improving electricity grids.
• Target 7.1: The global population with access to electricity has increased from 87% in 2015 to 91% in 2021. The pace of electrification has rebounded between 2019 and 2021. However, the annual access growth of 0.6 percentage points in the recent period is lower than the 0.8 percentage points in 2015–19. As a result, 675 million people, majorly located in LDCs and sub-Saharan Africa, still lacked access in 2021.
• Target 7.1: In 2021, 71% of the global population had access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, up from 64% in 2015. In seven (all located in sub-Saharan Africa) of the 20 countries with the largest deficits, fewer than 10% of the population had access to clean fuels and technologies. The growing access deficit in sub-Saharan Africa, if not reversed, could dampen or undermine increasing trends in global access.
• Target 7.2: The share of renewable sources in total final energy consumption amounted to 19.1% globally in 2020, or 2.4 percentage points higher than in 2015. Part of this progression is due to lower final energy demand in 2020, as the pandemic disrupted social and economic activities worldwide. The electricity sector shows the largest share of renewables in total final energy consumption (28.2% in 2020) and has driven most of the growth in renewable energy use, while the heat and transport sectors have seen limited progress over the past decade.
• Target 7.3: The rate of improvement in primary energy intensity, which had already slowed in recent years, dropped to 0.6% in 2020. This makes it the worst year for energy intensity improvement since the global financial crisis. Annual improvement through 2030 must now average 3.4% to meet the target of SDG 7.3. This slowdown was influenced by a shift in the economic structure during Covid towards more energy-intensive industrial production, combined with only modest rates of technical efficiency improvements, in the context of low energy prices.
• Target 7.a: International public financial flows in support of clean energy in developing countries have a decreasing trend that started before the COVID-19 pandemic and continued through 2021. In 2021, they amounted to $10.8 billion— an 11% drop from 2020. This was 35% less than the 2010–19 decade-long average, and less than half the 2017 peak of $26.4 billion.
  • Target 7.b: In 2021, there was a record-breaking installation of 268 Watts per capita of renewable capacity in developing countries, representing a year-on-year growth rate of 9.8%. However, even with this positive and accelerating growth, developing countries are not on track to meet SDG7 by 2030. Moreover, the positive global and regional trends hide the fact that the countries that are most in need of support are being left behind, even among developing countries.