JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD B.Tech IV RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES Previous Question Paper (September - 2020 - R16)

India is highly vulnerable to global climate change due to its diverse geography and dependence on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture. Key impacts include:

• Temperature Rise: Mean surface temperatures in India have risen significantly, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves that threaten public health and labor productivity.
• Monsoon Variability: The Indian Summer Monsoon, critical for the economy, has become increasingly erratic. This results in prolonged dry spells followed by extreme rainfall events, causing severe flooding in some regions and droughts in others.
• Glacial Retreat: The Himalayan glaciers, which feed major perennial rivers like the Ganges and Indus, are receding at an alarming rate, threatening long-term water security for millions.
• Sea Level Rise: With an extensive coastline, India faces risks from rising sea levels, leading to coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion into agricultural land, and the potential displacement of populations in low-lying areas like the Sundarbans.
• Impact on Agriculture: Changes in precipitation patterns and rising temperatures adversely affect crop yields, particularly for rice and wheat, threatening national food security.

Global Energy Scenario: The world is currently in a transition phase, moving away from a fossil-fuel-dominated system (coal, oil, and natural gas) toward cleaner, sustainable energy sources. While fossil fuels still account for the majority of primary energy consumption, there is a rapid acceleration in the adoption of solar, wind, and hydroelectric power to meet international climate targets and reduce carbon emissions.

Indian Energy Scenario: India is one of the world's fastest-growing energy markets. Its energy profile is characterized by:

• Coal Dependency: Coal remains the primary source for electricity generation, providing the base load for the industrial sector.
• Renewable Energy Push: India has set ambitious targets for non-fossil fuel capacity, focusing heavily on solar and wind energy to reduce its carbon footprint and energy import dependency.
• Energy Access: A major priority is ensuring universal energy access while balancing the rising energy demand of a growing economy and population.
• Import Dependency: India relies heavily on imports for crude oil and natural gas, making it vulnerable to global price volatility, which drives the strategic shift toward domestic renewable energy production.