The Rajya Sabha today took up discussion on the working of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. BJP MP Laxmikant Bajpayee said that the government is ensuring electricity availability while reducing carbon emissions. He said the government is committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2070. He added that it aims to increase the usage of green hydrogen, solar, and tidal energy while reducing energy production based on coal, petroleum, and gas. The goal is to attain a capacity of 50 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen.

Another BJP MP, Sumer Singh Solanki, said that the contribution of solar and wind energy to India’s electricity has seen unprecedented growth. He said that solar energy has become significantly cheaper due to government policy interventions. He said while the cost of solar energy per unit was 10 rupees 95 paise in 2010-11, it has decreased to 2 rupees 60 paise in 2023-24. TMC MP Derek O’Brien said that the government should ‘think globally and act locally.’ He suggested that the government should consult with four sectors, which are local governments, state governments, communities, and the private sector. Mr O’Brien also said that the government should focus on policy decisions rather than just making grand announcements. Quoting Niti Aayog, S. Niranjan Reddy of YSRCP highlighted that India would need 10 trillion dollars in investment to achieve its net-zero target by 2070. He stated that 90 per cent of this should come from private financing, with the government playing a facilitating role. He stressed the importance of creating an investment-friendly climate. The discussion remained inconclusive. Later, the House was adjourned for the day.