Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, declared on Monday that a forthcoming nuclear energy bill is set to revolutionize India's power landscape, specifically addressing the critical need for an uninterrupted and reliable energy supply for the nation's rapidly expanding data centre sector.
Nuclear Power: The Key to Uninterrupted Clean Energy
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi highlighting the central government's achievements in the power sector since 2014, Goyal positioned India as a "preferred destination" for data centres. He emphasized that the integration of nuclear power is essential to overcome the intermittent nature of solar and wind energy.
"Solar and wind energy can’t give 24x7 electricity but nuclear power can," Goyal stated. He outlined a vision where a strategic mix of these sources would deliver consistent clean power. "If there is a combination of solar, wind and nuclear, you can get round-the-clock clean and renewable energy," he explained.
Small Modular Reactors to Eliminate Power Cuts
The minister pinpointed the large-scale installation of small modular reactors (SMRs) as a game-changer. This technology, he asserted, would effectively put an end to power cuts and significantly strengthen the country's renewable energy infrastructure.
"With installation of small modular reactors on large scale, there will be no power cut. It will strengthen renewable energy," Goyal said confidently during the briefing.
India's Energy Sector: A Future Global Case Study
Looking at the broader picture, Piyush Goyal expressed strong optimism about India's energy trajectory. He projected that India’s energy sector would emerge as a global case study in successfully managing the trifecta of scale, speed, and sustainability.
The new legislative push for nuclear energy, therefore, is not just about powering data centres but is framed as a cornerstone in building a robust, future-proof, and sustainable energy ecosystem for the entire nation.
