New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) On Tuesday, the NITI Aayog unveiled the second batch of four Study Reports concerning the Roadmap for Viksit Bharat and Net Zero, focusing on the transport, industry, power, and critical minerals sectors.

The reports indicate that the share of electricity in the power sector could soar to as much as 60% by 2070, up from 21% in 2025, while the contribution from non-fossil fuel sources could rise from 23% to between 80-85%. By 2070, electricity, biofuels, and hydrogen could fulfill nearly 90% of the energy requirements for transport.

In the industrial realm, the demand for steel, cement, and aluminium is projected to escalate by 4-6 times by 2070, with electricity and green hydrogen forming the backbone of industrial energy.

Regarding critical minerals, recycling could potentially satisfy 20-25% of the demand for copper and graphite by the middle of the century.

The report titled Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero - Sectoral Insights: Transport (Vol. 3) evaluates the current landscape and future trajectory of India’s mobility ecosystem, including passenger and freight demands, modal distribution, technological advancement, and energy consumption. With expectations of increased passenger and freight transport, critical elements for transitioning include modal shifts, adoption of zero-emission vehicles, clean fuels, and structural changes towards public and shared mobility solutions as well as rail and waterway transport.

The Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero - Sectoral Insights: Industry (Vol. 4) report delves into various aspects of the industrial energy transition, encompassing industrial output, energy demand, and emissions across key subsectors such as steel, cement, aluminium, textiles, and petrochemicals. A focus on electrification, material efficiency, recycling, and the share of non-fossil energy, alongside leveraging emerging technologies, is deemed essential for the future.

The Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero - Sectoral Insights: Power (Vol. 7) report emphasizes the pivotal role of electricity in India’s developmental and Net Zero initiatives, scrutinizing future electricity needs, low-carbon supply alternatives, system reliability, and investment prerequisites. A sharp rise in demand is anticipated due to factors such as urbanization, cooling requirements, digitalization, electric mobility, and green hydrogen production. The report explores strategies for rapid electrification, extensive deployment of renewables, and enhancements in storage and transmission for a dependable, cost-effective, and increasingly clean power system.

The final report, Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero - Critical Mineral Assessment: Demand and Supply (Vol. 10), evaluates the mineral requirements stemming from India’s adoption of clean technologies across sectors like solar, wind, battery energy storage systems, EVs, and electrolysers. It discusses strategies for mitigating risks in the critical mineral supply chain and ensuring India’s future needs through coordinated efforts in the development of domestic resources, international sourcing, institutional reforms, and circularity.

During his remarks, NITI Aayog Member, Dr. V. K. Saraswat stated, "Energy, industry, and transport function as the engines of India’s economy. The dual challenge of achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 and Net Zero by 2070 presents a significant opportunity for a shift to clean energy and innovative fuels like green hydrogen, along with securing efficiency gains. Urgent action is needed to implement necessary technologies and reduce their costs."

NITI Aayog CEO, B.V.R Subrahmanyam, added, "The power, transport, and industry sectors represent 80% of the energy transition. Even with demand management, the necessity for materials such as steel, cement, and aluminium will increase rapidly. The hard-to-abate sectors in industry present formidable challenges. We must electrocute as much as possible, enhance circularity, substitute industrial processes, and improve efficiency."