Context

• National Energy Conservation Day is being celebrated in India today on 14th December.
• On this occasion, the participants who took steps towards energy conservation were honoured with awards by President Draupadi Murmu.
• The purpose of this day is to make people aware about the importance of energy conservation and to make people aware of the nation's achievements in energy conservation.

Background

• National Energy Conservation Day has been organised every year since 1991 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a premier organ of the Union Power Ministry.
• BEE contributes significantly to the implementation of plans to reduce excessive energy consumption.
• The Energy Conservation Act was also signed in 2001 to mitigate the effects of climate change through inclusive development.

Efforts made by India to achieve energy conservation

Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022

• The Act, effective from January 1, 2023, provides for a "Carbon Credit Trading Scheme" aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Entities complying with this scheme can participate in carbon trading by obtaining carbon credit certificates.

Global and National Commitment

• Despite India's per capita carbon emissions and greenhouse gas emissions being much lower than the global average, India is committed to environmental protection.
• Initiatives like 'Lifestyle for Environment' reflect the country's responsibility in tackling climate change.

Emphasis on e-mobility

• The government is prioritising e-mobility with a focus on electric vehicles, battery swapping policies and installation of charging stations.
• The recently launched 'EV-Yatra Portal' provides access to the nearest public EV charger in the vehicle.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

• With an allocation of Rs 19,700 crore, the Mission reflects India's commitment to a low carbon economy.
• It continues its efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, aiming for annual production of 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030.

Promoting renewable energy through green energy access

• Issued by the Ministry of Power, these rules reduce the open access limit from 1 MW to 100 kW, enabling small consumers to purchase renewable energy.

Other steps taken by the government for energy conservation -

• Apart from this, in energy conservation, Ujjwala scheme under which subsidised cooking gas, PM-KUSUM, solar parks, green energy corridors and other government initiatives are collectively contributing in transforming India into an energy-efficient nation.

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR EXAMS

National efforts towards energy conservation

• Performance Achievement and Business Plan (PET)
• Standards and Labelling-2006
• Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC)-2007
• demand side management

Global efforts towards energy conservation

• International energy agency
• Sustainable Energy for All
• paris agreement
• Mission Innovation (MI)