India to replace diesel by renewable energy in agriculture by 2024

India will replace use of diesel in farming with renewables by 2024 and, union power and renewable energy minister R K Singh said on Friday. He said the country targets to make the agriculture sector diesel- free in the next two years.

He urged that all states should develop specific action plans to achieve the assigned targets.

Singh chaired a virtual meeting with additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries of power in states for collaboration between the Central and state governments for achieving energy transition goals, an official statement said.

The meeting was held to discuss the country’s commitment in COP26 towards reducing carbon intensity and ensuring participation of states through energy saving targets.

Singh stressed the need for collaborative efforts between the Central and State Governments towards large-scale deployment of energy efficiency measures in potential sectors of the economy. He emphasised the need to have State specific agencies dedicated for energy efficiency and conservation, the statement said.

Singh said that all commercial and domestic buildings should follow energy savings codes of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021, India committed to achieve 500 Gw non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 and meeting 50% of energy requirements through renewable energy.

During the meeting, power secretary Alok Kumar sought cooperation from states to facilitate development of the State Energy Efficiency Action Plan, its adoption and implementation.

BEE will hand hold states in preparing State Specific Action Plans for achieving targeted goals.

Source: Economic Times