Puducherry is increasingly prioritising transparent CO₂ emissions reporting as a crucial element of its decarbonisation strategy. Recognising the imperative to address climate change and align with national goals, the Union Territory has undertaken initiatives to assess and track its greenhouse gas emissions. This includes the development of greenhouse gas inventories, providing a baseline for understanding the sources and levels of emissions across various sectors such as energy, transport, and waste. The establishment of the Puducherry Climate Change Cell underscores the institutional commitment to this effort, aiming to build a scientific understanding of emissions and inform targeted reduction strategies. Transparent reporting is seen as essential for effective decision-making, enabling the identification of key areas for intervention and the monitoring of progress towards carbon neutrality targets.
The drive for transparent emissions reporting in Puducherry is closely linked to its push for clean energy adoption. By accurately measuring emissions, particularly from the energy sector, which is a significant contributor, the government can better evaluate the impact of its renewable energy initiatives, such as the promotion of rooftop solar. This transparency fosters accountability and can attract investment in green technologies by demonstrating a clear commitment to a low-carbon future. Furthermore, robust reporting mechanisms support developing and implementing the Union Territory’s climate action plans, ensuring that efforts to transition to clean energy effectively contribute to emissions reduction goals and the broader objective of achieving carbon neutrality.
KEY FINDINGS
- In FY 2023-24, Electricity Department Puducherry (EDP) weighted average emission factor of 0.61 tCO₂/MWh was significantly lower than the national average of 0.72 tCO₂/ MWh, highlighting EDP’s continued emission reduction efforts.
- Total electricity procurement by EDP increased by 1,245 GWh, representing a 26% rise from FY18-FY24, driven by a growing electricity demand and a strategic diversification into renewable and nuclear energy sources.
- Fossil fuels continued to dominate the energy mix, however, their share declined by 43% between FY18-FY24, while nuclear energy procurement surged by 17% and renewable energy procurement grew from 0% to account for 16% of the total mix.
- Despite a reduction in the reliance on fossil fuels, EDP’s CO₂ emission factor reduced by 23% from FY18 to FY24, primarily due to the increased “short-term/other” procurement.
- EDP currently has a Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) backlog of 1,236 MW, which is equivalent to 39% of the target.
