How Centre is fueling clean energy growth

India has become an outspoken proponent of renewable energy, including at the just-concluded COP24 in Poland and as champion of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). But do the facts back up the rhetoric? Is the central government walking the talk?

Money, as they say, isn't everything - but an analysis of expenditure patterns reveals a lot about government priorities. And government subsidies affect energy prices, which drive investment and consumption decisions. A recent study of India's energy subsidies sheds light on exactly which energy types the government is backing. And it's no small amount - Rs 151,484 crore in the 2017-19 fiscal. The report is an update of a comprehensive inventory released last year.

Consistent with the government's position has been its shift away from subsidising fossil fuel and towards renewable energy. Fiscal 21016-17 saw a record rise in support for renewable energy of Rs 5,766 crore. At the same time, government support for coal, oil and gas fell by Rs 13,418 crore and by Rs 120,687 crore from 2014-15, reflecting reform of consumer price subsidies for fuels such as petrol and diesel.

But this is not the full story. Subsidies for fossil-fuels were still over three times those for renewables in 2017-18 at Rs 52,982 crore. Coal alone received more than renewables at Rs 15,992 crore and even increased by Rs 1,148 crore.
Subsidies for coal can undermine the development of renewables by artificially reducing prices for coal-fired power, the renewables' main competitor. This contributes to air pollution and carbon emissions. Even where there are environmental standards for coal, they aren't always well-enforced. One such example is non-compliance with coal washing laws, delivering a benefit of Rs 980 crore in 2017-18 to coal companies - and incentivising dirtier air for everyone.

Some energy subsidies are important to achieve certain policy objectives, such as access to energy. Around 70 per cent of India's energy subsidies aim to keep prices low for consumers or to connect households with modern energy, such as the Ujjwalaprogramme for cooking gas or the Saubhagyaprogramme for electricity. The single largest support measure in 2017-18, accounting for almost half of all energy subsidies, was transfers to electricity companies to keep power prices low (Rs 74,925).

Programmes to improve access to clean, modern energy are vital for health and improving development outcomes across many areas, as recognised in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. But this does not mean that such programmes should be exempt from review. On the contrary, evaluation is essential to ensure they are effective and delivering value for money.

At the moment, most of India's spending on energy consumption, particularly electricity, is poorly targeted, with many benefits being captured by higher-income households. Efforts have been made to improve targeting, but given their high remaining costs, renewed efforts to direct support to the poor are critical.

Looking at expenditure patterns, alternative ways of providing access to modern energy can also be considered. Kerosene, for example, is still used as the primary source of lighting for 30 per cent of households in some states and by many more as a backup during power outages. Subsidising kerosene might seem like a lifeline to these households. But kerosene causes indoor air pollution and poses a fire risk, as well as providing low quality light. Renewable alternatives such as solar lanterns or home systems are available for comparable costs to kerosene over time. But subsidies are needed to help poor households meet the initial upfront costs.

Further support may also be warranted for electric vehicles (EVs), which can help reduce pollution and de-link India's economy from volatile international oil prices. At the moment, when oil prices rise, the subsidy bill increases at the same time that revenues decline due to a variable fuel tax on petrol and diesel. Subsidies for EV are only in their early stages in India, totalling Rs 148 crore in 2017-18 and rising to Rs 250 crore in 2018-19.

Looking forward, the central government's support for renewable electricity is likely to head in the opposite direction to EV in coming years. Reforms associated with the GST will see tax breaks for coal and renewables both decline by about Rs 2,000 crore in 2018-19. But total tax breaks for coal will still be five times those for renewables. In addition, the largest subsidy for renewables, "viability gap funding", is likely to decline in line with increasingly competitive pricing for renewables.

Despite the increasing competitiveness of utility-scale solar and wind projects, certain clean technologies may continue to require budgetary support. They include offshore wind, energy storage and off-grid solutions. In addition, support for integration costs (such as energy storage) is likely to be needed to accelerate greater uptake of renewables. One potential source of funding is to shift savings from fossil-fuel subsidy reform or better subsidy targeting.

Hard data, such as that in this review, provides a welcome anchor point in a debate that is frequently shrouded in spin-by governments, interest groups and commentators. Greater transparency and reporting is needed to get the full picture.
Financial information is sorely lacking for many government energy policies, particularly at the state level. Only with full accounting and disclosure can there be the necessary evaluation of energy policies to ensure they are meeting their objectives and delivering value.

- Vibhuti Garg & Tara Laan
(IANS)