Electronics are leading the race towards a sustainable future. We will unveil how these powerful tools are driving innovation and spearheading the decarbonization of industries worldwide. Electronics are reshaping the sustainability landscape and powering a cleaner and greener tomorrow. 

We stand at the crossroads of history, tasked with a challenge and a transformative opportunity. Let’s empower decarbonization and revolutionize the industry through the transformational potential of electronics. It is a journey that demands bold vision, unwavering commitment, and a pursuit of innovation. 

 

Integration of Electronics into Industries 

The integration of electronics into industrial processes has the potential to revolutionize efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.

From manufacturing to agriculture, electronics are revolutionizing how we produce and consume. Precision agriculture techniques are guided by data and technology, optimizing resource usage and minimizing environmental impact. Smart manufacturing processes streamline operations, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.

 

Leading Towards Decarbonization Goals

As we know, decarbonization is the process of reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. It is a crucial step in combating climate change and safeguarding the health of our planet for future generations. 

As India moves forward with ambitious decarbonization goals, the focus is on harnessing power from renewables, where electronics will play a very crucial role. 

India has experienced numerous natural disasters related to climate change since 2010, such as the drastic weather patterns that led to unprecedented rainfall and flooding in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. The 2021 land subsidence crisis in Joshimath – a popular tourist town in the northeastern state of Uttarakhand. Heat waves or hotter and hotter summers every year. 

All countries in the world have initiated policies to combat this growing concern. During COP26 in the UK, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a target for the country to achieve net zero by 2070. 

Taking a stand against climate change, India has made climate commitments at various international forums. India is leading many countries by powering the future with renewable energy. This is accelerating sustainable mobility in the transport sector and converting energy from conventional sources to green technologies. 

Extensive use of fossil fuels and coal dependency to meet our power and energy requirements are among the main reasons behind greenhouse gas emissions. 

 

Harnessing Power from Renewables

In its move towards reducing fossil fuels and coal dependency, the focus has been on harnessing power from renewables. 

India set a renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2025, which included:

• 100 GW from solar
• 60 GW from wind
• 10 GW from biomass power
• 5 GW from small hydropower

The country is on track to have 50% of its installed power generation capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. 

The country’s installed power generation capacity from non-fossil sources is 186 GW, which is 43% of its total installed capacity,

The impact of electronics extends far beyond the energy sector. Electronics are facilitating a shift towards sustainability across industries, from manufacturing to transportation. 

Decarbonization necessitates a fundamental shift in mindset, where sustainability becomes not just a goal but a guiding principle in all our actions and decisions.

If India is to have an orderly and accelerated decarbonization, the transition has to be set up within this decade. 

 

Next Decade is Of Electronics Industry which will be engine in driving India’s Growth

Today, we find ourselves amid a technological rebirth. The rise of personal computing and microprocessors transformed how we work, communicate, and interact with the world. Suddenly, the power of electronics was in the hands of everyday people, democratizing access to information and unleashing a wave of creativity and innovation.

The world has become more interconnected with the advent of the Internet and mobile technology. Industries have embraced digitalization, leading to smart factories and the Internet of Things. Automation and efficiency have reached new heights, driving unprecedented productivity levels and reshaping society.

We stand on the brink of a new decade, at the dawn of yet another technological revolution. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to quantum computing and beyond, the possibilities are endless. Electronics continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, propelling us towards a future that is both exciting and uncertain.

India has emerged as a preferred destination for electronics manufacturing in recent years, and for good reason. The country has a large and expanding consumer market, a strong IT industry, a skilled labor force, and government policies and initiatives that support the growth of the electronics manufacturing sector. 

 

Potential of Electronics Manufacturing in India

India's consumer market for electronic products is rapidly growing, driven by rising incomes, increasing urbanization, and growing adoption of digital technologies.

Growth Prospect

The India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) estimates that the country's electronics manufacturing sector was worth $215 billion in 2019–20 and will grow to $540 billion by 2025.  

Make in India

The electronics manufacturing industry has witnessed a notable influx of foreign direct investment (FDI) as a result of the government's "Make in India" campaign, with an estimated USD 3.6 billion in 2023.  

IT Industry

A significant and continuously expanding pool of trained workers, including engineers and technicians, is available in India, which is crucial for the production of electronics. The robust IT sector in the nation can aid in the creation of new technologies and the production of electronic goods.

Industrial Parks and Special Economic Zones (SEZs)

Investments in industrial parks and special economic zones (SEZs) for the production of electronics have been made by the government as part of its infrastructure development initiatives. In order to establish, manage, and grow manufacturing operations in India, this gives businesses access to the facilities and infrastructure they need.  

 

Government Initiatives 

The Indian government has implemented several policies and initiatives to support electronics manufacturing in the country. 

National Policy on Electronics (NPE)

The National Policy on Electronics (NPE) aims to create an environment enabling electronics manufacturing in the country. The policy targets creating a $400 billion electronics manufacturing industry by 2025, focusing on increasing domestic value addition and creating employment opportunities.

Make in India

The ‘Make in India’ initiative, launched in 2014, offers financial incentives and tax breaks to companies that set up manufacturing operations in India.

PLI Scheme

With the goal of encouraging domestic production of electronic goods and components, the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has promised to give large-scale electronics manufacturers incentives of INR 40,951 crore ($5.5 billion) over the course of the following five years.  

Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs)

The government has also established Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) across the country, offering infrastructure and electronics manufacturing facilities.

With a competent labor population, government support, and a developing home market, India has a bright future in the electronics manufacturing sector. The goal of the nation's policies and activities is to establish an infrastructure-supporting, financially-incentivized, and business-friendly environment for electronics production in India. Given the current changes in global supply chains, India is ideally situated to develop into a center for electronic device production.  

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is India harnessing power from renewables using electronics to achieve its decarbonisation goals?

Extensive use of Fossil fuels and coal-dependency, to meet our power and energy requirements are one of the main reasons behind green gas emissions. In its move towards decarbonisation by reducing fossil fuels and coal-dependency, the focus has been on harnessing power from renewables.

India set a renewable energy target of 175 GW by 2025 which included, 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from biomass power, and 5 GW from small hydro power.

The country is on track to have 50% of its installed power generation capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030. The country’s installed power generation capacity from non-fossil source is 186 GW, which is 43% of its total installed capacity. 

Electronics Technology will undoubtedly play an instrumental role in the energy transition. An influx of innovative solutions will create new possibilities, helping the industry to unlock a clean and resilient energy system that's fit for the future. 

Power electronics, which conduct essential conversion and control activities, play a crucial role in connecting energy storage systems to renewable energy sources and the load or power grid.

Power electronics devices, such as grid-tied inverters and energy storage systems, facilitate the smooth integration of renewable energy into the grid. These devices help manage the supplydemand balance by adjusting the flow of electricity when renewable sources fluctuate.

Power electronic converters transform variable frequency electricity into DC and subsequently into fixed frequency AC power suited for long-distance transmission to the onshore grid.

 

2. What role do emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning play in advancing electronics-driven decarbonisation efforts?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to play a transformative role in decarbonizing the economy, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a low-carbon future. AI can be applied to a wide range of decarbonisation challenges. According to the latest studies, AI can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10%, the equivalent of 2.6 to 5.3 Gigatons of CO2. Almost 75% of all global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are caused by producing and consuming energy. More AI for energy needs to be developed, if decarbonisation is one of the goals.

Exploiting the benefits of AI in decarbonisation is not just an aspiration, but a tangible and dynamic reality. 

Optimizing Carbon Footprint Measurement

The optimization of carbon footprint assessment is a key component in the quest for environmental sustainability, and the introduction of AI presents a paradigm change in this vital process. AI has the underlying ability to improve data accuracy by using machine learning algorithms to instantly analyse large datasets. This improves the accuracy of carbon footprint estimates and helps companies pinpoint certain emission sources and patterns.

Minimizing Waste in Production Processes

AI greatly increases the amount of waste that can be eliminated from industrial processes, which is a major step towards more sustainable and effective manufacturing. One study done in this regard found that AI could boost manufacturing productivity by up to 20% and reduce waste by up to 4%.

Balancing and Enhancing Energy Distribution

In order to create a more robust and sustainable energy infrastructure, optimizing and balancing energy distribution is essential, and AI offers an innovative advantage to this difficult task. AI’s skillful management of the enormous datasets produced by power systems and smart grids is the first step towards its contribution to the distribution of energy.

Carbon Capture and Storage

An innovative front in the fight against climate change is the junction of artificial intelligence (AI) and carbon capture and storage (CCS). A study by the International Energy Agency (IEA) found that AI could reduce the cost of CCS by up to 30%. AI solutions solve issues and provide doors for more efficient carbon reduction by bringing a new degree of accuracy and efficiency to the CCS process.

 

3. How can small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) leverage smart electronic manufacturing technologies?

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) integrate modern Smart Manufacturing-related Information and Digital Technologies (SMIDT) such as artificial intelligence with their business operations to enable smart manufacturing. Smart manufacturing is reminiscent of a fully integrated, collaborative production ecosystem that responds, in real-time, to the ever-changing demands and conditions across the value chain

Embracing technology can empower SMEs to operate more efficiently, reach a broader audience, and respond promptly to market changes. By integrating technology into their operations, SMEs can position themselves as competitors in the business landscape.