India
is the seventh largest country in the world in terms of area and second largest
in terms of population. It is expected to surpass the population of China by
2024. This is the reason that India’s energy demand has been
rapidly growing for the last two decades. Due to such a high energy demand,
pollution is also increasing simultaneously.
There exist many types of pollution like air, water, noise and soil. Nowadays, the quality of air and water has degraded. To save our planet Earth and to increase its lifespan, many countries have taken decision to use clean energy. Similarly, India has also decided to march towards clean energy. Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Bio Energy, Geothermal Energy are the sources of clean energy or renewable energy, which are replenished or renewed over a period of time. Renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation and rural energy services. The advantages of using clean energy are that it is efficient, pollution free, helps in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that we release in the air. The installation charges may be high but after that it is free for lifetime. There are many other benefits like if we use clean energy fuels, these will automatically improve the public health. Once the pollution level starts falling down, health of people will definitely improve.
We are much more dependent on foreign supplies for oil, coal and
petrol but the fact is that our country has such a vast renewable resource that
we can utilise it. For example, hydro power is a great source of
domestically-produced power that generates power directly to the grid. The same
can be said about solar, wind and geothermal energy sources. Geothermal energy
from underground reservoirs of steam and hot water can be tapped to generate
electricity or to heat and cool buildings directly which means geothermal
energy can be accessed throughout the year, making it both renewable and
reliable.
Former United Nations Secretary- General Mr. Ban Ki-moon has said
that renewable energy has the ability to lift the poorest nations to new
levels of prosperity. India has such a diversified culture as well as renewable
resources or clean sources that can be used in a proper way and uplift the
country’s status from a developing country to a developed country.