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Clean technology, or cleantech, encompasses products, services, and processes that leverage renewable resources and energy, reduce emissions, and have a lesser environmental impact than traditional technologies.
By Vajiram Editor – Jan 6, 2026, 12:48 IST
Clean technology also known as green technology, refers to products, services and processes that utilise renewable materials and energy sources. The significance of clean technology lies in its potential to decarbonise the energy system. By deploying solutions for the storage and applications of renewable energy, clean technology can help mitigate climate risks and advance sustainable development.
Clean technology is crucial for India for energy security and maintaining high economic growth rates while ensuring ecological sustainability. It promises new industries and jobs creating green GDP, and energising programs like Make in India through renewed manufacturing.
Clean technologies are essential for sustainable development and reducing the impacts of climate change. Some key clean technologies include:
– These are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of a fuel (hydrogen, methanol etc.) directly into electricity without any combustion.
– The fuel is oxidised at the anode, while oxygen is reduced at the cathode. The reaction produces electricity, water, and heat.
– They convert sunlight directly into electricity via the photovoltaic effect using semiconducting materials like silicon, cadmium telluride or thin films.
– When sunlight strikes the cell, the photons are absorbed, exciting electrons which then flow through the material producing current.
– These are rechargeable batteries, widely used in energy storage systems due to their high energy density, long cycle life, relatively low self-discharge, and no memory effect.
– They use lithium ions that move between a graphite anode and a lithium metal oxide cathode through an electrolyte. This flow of ions generates current.
– Fuses light atomic nuclei at high temperatures, releasing massive amounts of energy.
– In the long run, safe fusion power from reactors like the Tokamak can be a game-changer in meeting massive clean energy needs
– These are renewable fuels, made from biological sources like plants and animal waste.
– Advanced biofuels are made from non-edible parts of plants or microorganisms using genetic engineering.
India has implemented numerous policies and programs promoting clean technology adoption to accomplish climate goals.
India’s transition towards clean energy adoption faces several challenges as it strives to reshape its energy landscape and meet ambitious renewable energy targets. Here are some key challenges:
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Question 1: With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements : (UPSC Prelims 2015)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Question 2: With reference to technologies for solar power production, consider the following statements: (UPSC Prelims 2014)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a)
Question 3. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, which of the following can be used as raw materials for the production of biofuels? (UPSC-2020)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
Answer (a)
Last updated on June, 2026
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Q1. What are clean technologies?+
Ans. Clean technologies refer to products, processes, or services that reduce negative environmental impacts through significant energy efficiency, sustainable use of resources, or environmental protection activities. Examples include renewable energy, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, battery storage, smart grids, LED lighting, etc.
Q2. How do clean technologies help the environment?+
Ans. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, lowering air and water pollution, and managing waste sustainably, clean technologies help address climate change, resource depletion, environmental degradation and pollution – making economic growth more sustainable.
Q3. What are some benefits of adopting clean technologies?+
Ans. Benefits include reduced operating costs through higher efficiency, improved energy security by using renewable sources, lower health impacts of pollution, new revenue opportunities and jobs in the cleantech sector, compliance with environmental regulations, and positive brand value for early adopters.
Q4. What is the National Hydrogen Mission?+
Ans. Launched in 2021, it aims to enable cost-competitive green hydrogen production in India by 2030. It has 4 main strategic pillars – scaling up production and utilization of green hydrogen, R&D, regulations and training.
Q5. What is the National Bioenergy Mission?+
Ans. Launched in 2021, it promotes biomass and waste-to-energy technologies for producing biofuels, biogas etc. It mandates scaling up compressed biogas production and supporting entrepreneurs in waste-to-wealth.
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