Worksheet 3

Name: Ananya
Name: Kumari
Lachi Markam Class: BA Political Science (Hons) Roll No. 2417108
2417130

Natural Resources Worksheet

Read the following paragraph and answer the questions given below:

As of today, almost a quarter of the world’s total land area has been degraded. This creates
enormous problems not only for the billions of people who directly depend on agriculture,
but it has far-reaching impacts affecting every single person on this planet today. If current
trends continue, 95% of the Earth’s land areas could become degraded within the next 30
years. And yet, the opportunities are huge. Current efforts underway to restore two billion
hectares of degraded land globally could deliver a wide range of environmental benefits:
increasing productivity, sequestering carbon and preserving biodiversity.

(i) What is land degradation?

Land degradation is the process by which land becomes unhealthy and

unproductive due to various natural conditions and human activities. It is decline
in quality and productivity of land. It is also the loss of economic productivity of
the land. This is very dangerous to nature which causes further disasters. A few
causes of land degradation are soil pollution, soil erosion, overgrazing, drought,
extraction of minerals, deforestation, urbanisation and practice of unsustainable
agriculture. They pose a serious threat to the ecosystem as well.

(ii) How does land degradation affect agriculture and biodiversity?

Land degradation reduces soil fertility and makes crops produce lower yields. Soil erosion
washes away the topsoil which is rich in nutrients and is important for growth of crops.
Lower crops yields impact food security. Degraded land cannot retain more water. They are
less resilient to extremity of climates like droughts, floods, and heatwaves. In case of
biodiversity, land degradation destroys habitats for many species, reducing biodiversity. It
also leads to decline in Ecosystem Services Land degradation often results in fragmented
habitats, making it harder for species to migrate, find food, or reproduce.
 (iii) Suggest few measures that can be taken to prevent land degradation.

1. Planting tress and restoring degraded forests can help prevent soil erosion, improve water
retention, and enhance soil fertility.

2. Promoting techniques like crop rotation, agroforestry, conservation tillage, and organic
farming can improve soil health.

3. Implementing rainwater harvesting, watershed management, and efficient irrigation

systems (e.g., drip irrigation) to reduce water wastage and prevent soil salinisation.

4. Installing terracing, check dams, contour plowing, and windbreaks to reduce water and
wind erosion in vulnerable areas.

5. Policies to reduce land pollution from industrial waste and urban sprawl are initiated in
order to protect arable land and ecosystems.

6. Enforcing stricter land-use regulations, promoting land conservation policies, and

incentivising sustainable practices among farmers and industries.

Using the provided numerical data, analyse the implications for each renewable energy
source.

Discuss how these numbers impact the adoption and implementation of biomass power, wind
power, hydropower, geothermal power, and solar power in India, considering factors such as
capacity growth , cost trends, and environmental contributions.

Energy source I n s t a l l e d Annual growth Levelized cost CO 2 emissions

capacity (GW) rate (%) of e n e r g y (million tons)
(LCOE) (INR/
kWh)
Solar Power 41 25 2.5-2.8 45
Wind Power 38 11 2.4-2.7 55
Hydropower 50 5 2-4 25
G e o t h e r m a l 0.4 N/A N/A N/A
Power
Biomass Power 10 8 3.5-4.5 15
 1. Which renewable energy source has the highest installed capacity in India?

Hydropower

2. Which energy source has the fastest annual growth rate?

Solar power

3. What is the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for wind power, and how does it
compare to solar power?

2.4-2.7 . When compared to solar power, the costs of energy from both sources are quite
similar.both energy sources have comparable costs, with slight variations depending on
specific circumstances and locations.

4. Which energy source contributes the least to CO2 emissions?

Biomass power

5. Why is geothermal power not widely adopted in India despite being renewable?

Despite being a renewable energy source, geothermal power is not widely adopted in India
due to various reasons. India does not have a widespread network of high-temperature
geothermal resources like some other countries. So the energy resources is con ned to
regions such as Himalayan belt and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. It requires quite high
capital investments. The technology is more expensive compared to other renewable sources
like solar and wind. Lack of experts and infrastructure in India has made it challenging to




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 harness geothermal energy on a large scale. It does have some environmental impacts, such
as the release of gases during drilling.

6. What is the major drawback of biomass power compared to other renewable energy
sources?

The major drawback of biomass power, compared to other renewable energy sources, is its
higher CO2 emissions. Although biomass is considered renewable, it still releases significant
greenhouse gases during combustion, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
Additionally the process can lead to land-use issues, deforestation, and competition with food
production.

7. Which renewable energy source has the highest CO2 emissions?

Wind power

8. How does hydropower's annual growth rate compare to other renewable energy
sources?

Hydropower's annual growth rate, at 5%, is relatively slower compared to other renewable
energy sources. For example, solar power and wind power has an impressive growth rate
re ecting rapid advancements and investments in these technologies. In contrast, hydropower
growth is more limited due to challenges such as geographical constraints, high initial
investment, environmental concerns, and long development timelines for new projects. As a
result, while hydropower remains a signi cant source of renewable energy, its growth has
been more moderate in comparison to the more rapidly expanding solar and wind sectors.

9. Based on the data, which energy source would you recommend for rural
electrification in India, and why?




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 Based on the data, solar power would be the most suitable energy source for rural
electri cation in India. This is due to high growth rate, low levelised cost of energy
(LCOE) , being suitable for remote areas, having minimal environmental impact. It has also
received government support and various other initiatives. Solar power's affordability,
scalability, environmental bene ts, and compatibility with rural needs make it the ideal
choice for electrifying India's rural areas.

10. Discuss one factor driving the rapid growth of solar power in India.

One key factor driving the rapid growth of solar power in India is the declining cost of solar
technology. Over the past decade, the cost of solar panels and associated infrastructure has
signi cantly reduced due to advancements in manufacturing processes, and global
competition. This has made solar energy much more affordable, particularly in a country like
India, where the cost of electricity and energy access remains a major concern, especially in
rural areas.The government of India has also played a pivotal role by introducing policies
such as the National Solar Mission and incentives for solar installations, further reducing
nancial barriers. The falling cost of solar power makes it increasingly competitive with
traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources, while offering the added bene ts of
sustainability, low emissions, and energy independence. This combination of cheaper
technology and government support has been on of the main factors for rapid growth in India.

11. How does the environmental contribution of wind power compare to solar power?

Both wind power and solar power are environmentally friendly renewable energy sources,
but solar power generally has a slightly lower environmental impact. While wind power
emits 55 million tons of CO2 annually due to the energy-intensive manufacturing and
installation of turbines, solar power contributes 45 million tons of CO2, making it somewhat
less polluting. Wind energy can sometimes be more predictable, while solar power depends
on sunlight availability. Additionally, wind power requires large land areas and can disrupt
local wildlife, while solar power, particularly through rooftop installations, can be integrated
with minimal environmental disruption. However, both energy sources signi cantly reduce
greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels, making them crucial for a sustainable
energy future.

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12. If India wants to focus on minimizing CO2 emissions, which renewable energy
source should it prioritize?

If India is to opt for reducing CO₂ emissions, then it should look into solar energy and wind
energy, as there is a huge potential scope and near-zero emissions through operation. It is
cleaner than all the other alternative options. India receives widespread sunlight throughout
the year, making energy from the sun highly feasible. Solar projects could be deployed faster
than large-sized wind projects, hence reduction in CO₂ emissions. While wind power and
hydropower are also crucial, the flexibility and enormous potential of solar energy suit India's
energy and environmental goals better. Giving priority to solar energy can help reduce the
CO₂ emissions and meet the need for growing energy growth.