Environmental Emerging Technologies in India

Renewable Energy Technologies 

• Solar Energy: India has set an ambitious renewable energy target, aiming for 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 (as per India’s COP26 pledge), with a major emphasis on solar energy.
  • As India aims to reduce the cost of solar power and enhance efficiency, initiatives like the National Solar Mission, technologies like Solar Photovoltaic cells, and various state-level incentives have played a crucial role in promoting the adoption of solar technologies. 
• Wind Energy: Wind energy is rapidly expanding in India, with both onshore and offshore wind power. As of 2023, India was ranked fourth in global wind power capacity , with states such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra leading the way.
  • New technological advancements in high-efficiency wind turbines, grid integration systems, and energy storage solutions are helping address intermittency issues and improve grid stability. 
• Hydropower & Bioenergy: Hydropower continues to play a vital role in India’s clean energy transition, particularly small-scale hydroelectric plants. They provide reliable, renewable power to rural areas.
  • Bioenergy from agricultural residues, waste, and organic matter is another important area, with biofuels, biogas, and biomass-based energy contributing significantly to rural energy needs. 

Waste Management and Recycling 

• Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Technologies:WtE technologies include:
  • Biomethanation utilizes organic waste to produce biogas, which can be used to generate power. Gasification converts waste into synthesis gas (syngas), which can be used to generate electricity. 
• Plastic Waste Management: With increasing plastic waste in urban areas, India is focused on plastic recycling innovations and biodegradable plastics. Efforts to reduce plastic pollution include the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies , which require producers to take responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer waste.  
• E-Waste Management:E-waste management is a growing concern in India, with the country being one of the largest producers of electronic waste globally. As a major producer of e-waste, India is focusing on safe recycling technologies, such as reverse logistics, under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
  • Reverse logistics involves the collection, disassembly, remanufacturing, recycling, and responsible disposal of end-of-life (EOL) electrical and electronic products to minimize environmental harm.  

Innovation in Water Purification and Wastewater Treatment 

• Desalination Technologies: With water scarcity in coastal areas, solar desalination technologies are gaining importance. These systems use solar energy to desalinate seawater, providing an eco-friendly and cost-effective way to produce fresh water. Large-scale reverse osmosis (RO) systems are also being installed in coastal regions to meet urban and industrial water needs. 
• Rainwater Harvesting and Reuse Technologies: Rainwater harvesting is a key component of sustainable water management, particularly in drought-prone regions. For example- The Kundi (also known as kund) is a traditional rainwater harvesting system used in Rajasthan.
  • IoT-based smart water management systems use sensors and data analytics to optimize water usage, detect leaks, and ensure efficient conservation.  
  • India’s water conservation policies promote rainwater harvesting (National Water Policy & Urban guidelines) at the household and community levels. 

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Technologies 

• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): In line with India’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which aim for a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030, the country is placing increasing emphasis on transitioning to clean energy. In this context, CCS technologies have emerged as a vital solution for reducing industrial emissions and meeting global climate commitments. The CCS approaches include:
  • Point-source CCS, which involves capturing CO2 directly at the site of its production, such as industrial smokestacks. 
  • Direct air capture (DAC) focuses on removing CO2 that has already been emitted into the atmosphere. 
• Green Hydrogen:Green hydrogen is being explored for its potential use in heavy industries, transportation, and power generation. It is considered a viable solution for decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as steel manufacturing and long-haul transport.
  • The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) (launched in 2023) aims to produce 5 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of green hydrogen annually by 2030, contributing significantly to the nation’s clean energy transition. 

Use of Drones and GIS in Environmental Monitoring 

• Drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – UAVs) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Drones capture high-resolution imagery using sensors like LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to monitor vegetation, water quality, and land-use changes.
  • They help track land degradation, deforestation, and assess habitat changes, with GIS aiding in data analysis for conservation.  
  • Drones also monitor climate change impacts, such as glaciers, coastal erosion, and wildfires, while GIS supports long-term climate modeling.  
  • For instance, ISRO uses satellite-based drones to track glacier melting and coastal erosion in the Himalayas. Additionally, India is deploying drones for border surveillance, which also assist in monitoring environmental changes in sensitive areas. 

Geoengineering for Climate Change Intervention 

• Geoengineering technologies can be broadly classified into two main categories:
  • Solar radiation management (SRM): SRM involves deploying materials in space to reflect solar rays away from the Earth. This method, while still conceptual, draws inspiration from natural phenomena such as volcanic eruptions.
    • For example, Mount Pinatubo’s 1991 eruption in the Philippines reportedly reduced Earth’s temperature by 0.5°C that year. 
  • Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): Techniques include CCS, Direct Air Capture (DAC), and Carbon Capture,Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), with the focus on long-term reduction of atmospheric CO2 levels.
    • DAC: It involves extracting CO₂ directly from ambient air using large devices (often called “artificial trees”) for storage or use.
      • DAC has greater potential benefits as it can address historical CO₂ emissions, though it also faces more significant challenges. 
    • CCUS: Some captured CO₂ is repurposed in industrial processes, while the remainder is stored.