Bill to amend energy conservation Act introduced in RS

• Minister of New and Renewable Energy recently introduced the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
• Stated that the non-fossil fuel capacity was 42% of the total energy generation & the Bill had been brought to address the transition to clean energy.

Plans for transition

• Replacing natural gas: For petroleum refining, hydrogen drawn from natural gas is used. The idea is to replace natural gas.
• Using green hydrogen gas: Ammonia is made from natural gas, both ammonia and natural gas are imported, so it will be replaced with green hydrogen.

Concerns and contradictions

• Building codes for non-fossil fuel-based construction in the bill: Expands the extent of carbon footprint emanation.
• Creation of agencies for issuing carbon credit certificates.
• Reduction in the subsidies on clean energy
• Increase in the taxes

Prelims takeaway

• Renewable energy generation in India