CEA Updates CO₂ Baseline Database, Highlighting India’s Renewable Energy Progress and Emission Reductions – EQ
In Short : The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has updated its CO₂ Baseline Database for India’s power sector, showcasing progress in renewable energy integration and emission reductions. In 2023-24, renewable energy generation increased to 225.83 billion units. The database tracks emissions across all power stations, helping evaluate the impact of renewable energy and supporting India’s environmental sustainability goals.
In Detail : The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) recently revised its CO₂ Baseline Database, providing a comprehensive overview of the Indian power sector’s emission trends. The report highlights the growing role of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydro, in reducing carbon emissions. This updated baseline will serve as an important tool for monitoring and assessing the country’s carbon footprint from the power sector.
As of 2023-24, India’s total installed power generation capacity reached around 442 GW, with renewable energy accounting for a significant portion. The country’s shift from conventional fossil fuels, like coal and lignite, to cleaner energy alternatives is becoming more evident. This shift is aligned with India’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions and enhance its environmental sustainability.
Renewable energy generation saw a significant increase in the last fiscal year. The total generation from renewables reached 225.83 billion units in 2023-24, compared to 203.55 billion units in the previous year. This growth is reflective of India’s continuing efforts to diversify its energy mix and expand the capacity of renewable energy projects across the nation.
The CEA’s report also includes an important update on the weighted average emission factor, which was calculated at 0.727 tCO₂/MWh. This factor accounts for the reduced emissions due to the increasing share of renewables in India’s power generation. The data demonstrates that renewable energy integration is helping to lower the overall carbon intensity of the sector, marking a positive trend in emissions reduction.
The CO₂ Baseline Database is an essential tool for tracking emissions from all grid-connected power stations in India. It provides valuable data on the emissions intensity of different power plants, helping policymakers and industry stakeholders monitor the effectiveness of emission reduction measures. This is crucial for ensuring that emission targets are being met and for guiding future energy and environmental policies.
By continuously updating the CO₂ Baseline Database, the CEA enables effective evaluation of India’s progress in reducing emissions from the power sector. The database plays a key role in supporting India’s broader sustainability goals, providing transparency in emission monitoring, and guiding future strategies for cleaner energy development.
