Sustainability has become a key global goal, emphasized through the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable energy systems are central to achieving this objective. They include access to renewable energy sources, improvements in energy efficiency, and better economic, social, and environmental outcomes. One of the major goals under SDG 7 is to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030. It also aims to significantly increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix and double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency. Additionally, SDG 7 calls for enhanced international cooperation to promote investment in clean energy technologies and the expansion of energy infrastructure, especially in developing and least-developed countries.
Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass, and geothermal are critical to achieving sustainability. To track progress, a set of Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development has been developed by organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Energy Agency. These indicators help countries analyze trends in energy use, measure energy efficiency, and understand the impact of economic and technological changes. They are used to calculate energy intensities, which are ratios of energy consumed per unit of output, and help identify how energy is being consumed and where improvements can be made.
Energy security is another essential aspect of sustainable development. Reliable and affordable energy must be available at all times to avoid economic and social disruptions. Indicators such as net energy imports and fuel stock levels are monitored to assess a country’s energy security. These measures help ensure that energy policies support consistent supply and long-term sustainability.
Economic indicators are particularly important in assessing the sustainability of energy use. These indicators include data on overall energy use per capita, energy conversion and distribution efficiency, reserve-to-production ratios, and sector-specific energy intensities. For example, energy intensity is defined as the amount of energy used to produce one unit of GDP, helping to evaluate a country’s energy efficiency. Per capita energy consumption is calculated by dividing total energy use by the population and is a key measure of overall energy demand.
India achieved 100% village electrification by March 2022, a major milestone under SDG 7. This progress reflects the country’s commitment to energy access for all. However, while energy intensity and per capita consumption are widely used indicators, they may not fully account for non-conventional energy use, especially in rural areas.
India’s energy-related CO2 emissions rose from about 1.9 million GgCO2 in 2014 to over 2.2 million GgCO2 in 2020. Although energy industries remain the largest contributors, their share of emissions has slightly decreased, indicating a gradual shift towards cleaner energy sources.
Economic dimension indicators include various themes such as energy use and production patterns, and energy security. These indicators evaluate overall energy use, productivity, supply efficiency, energy production, end-use energy intensities, and the fuel mix. Sectoral energy intensity indicators measure how efficiently energy is used in the industrial, transport, and agricultural sectors. Similarly, electricity intensity indicators track electricity use in these sectors and help assess technological improvements and efficiency gains.
The fuel mix is another critical aspect of energy sustainability. Indicators track the share of different fuels in total primary energy supply, total final consumption, and electricity generation. This helps us understand how dependent the country is on specific fuels and the extent to which it is transitioning to non-fossil sources. For instance, India’s electricity generation from thermal sources decreased from 81% in 2014-15 to 78% in 2020-21, with a slight rise to 79% in 2023-24. Meanwhile, renewable energy’s share (excluding hydro) rose from 6% to 12%, marking a positive shift towards cleaner energy alternatives.
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