One of the most-watch nations on earth in the fight against global warming and rising seas is India. Set to surpass China as the most populous (1.45 billion people) nation on earth in 2028, India is still overwhelmingly poor and over-reliant on primitive fossil fuel burning equipment that burns coal, diesel, and oil.

But the nation’s government and its top leaders are swiftly embracing new technologies like the Rentar Fuel Catalyst (RFC) as the country continues to rapidly modernize.

‘Black Smoke Reduced, Smooth-Running Engines’

In major tests on power generation equipment, the Power Grid Corporation of India praised the Rentar Fuel Catalyst’s fuel savings of 12 percent and its ability to greatly curb emissions. The corporation noted that when its engines are equipped with the RFC, “black smoke is reduced and the engine is running smoothly without vibrations.” The company tested the RFC on a 140 KVA Cummins Diesel Generator Set.

India will need technologies like the RFC to make the seismic shift needed to stem emissions and conserve fuel. More than 300 million people currently live in poverty in India. A similar number do not have access to electricity. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made it his priority to address these energy and poverty issues and develop the country’s power grid.

India’s Dilemma: Rapid Modernization, Aging Technology

That means a huge increase in the country’s energy demand, one that will rely on a host of new, fuel-saving technologies. India’s energy consumption is expected to rise 132 percent by 2035, while electricity demand is likely to more than triple in the next 30 years, according to the best estimates.

The RFC is particularly well suited to India’s situation because it is new technology that works by enhancing older technologies, like diesel-burning power generators, trucks and construction equipment, boilers and furnaces. It is easily installed and offers an immediate return on investment (ROI) as it saves fuel and curbs emissions from the first day on.

The dangers posed by toxic emissions are significant in India. Approximately 60 percent of India’s installed power plants are coal-based. Coal will still account for 55 percent of India’s electricity generation in 2040, according to several studies.

The Solution: ‘All of the Above’

Modi has adopted a plan that is very similar to the United States’ energy strategy, generally known as “all of the above.” That means pushing for the development of renewables and nuclear energy alongside diesel fuel and coal. Wind power currently accounts for about 70 percent of India’s renewable energy capacity, and the government wants to add 10,000 megawatts more each year.

Modi also wants to try and scale up the solar power-driven economic revival he first instigated as a regional governor, adding 100 gigawatts nationwide by 2022. India is set to emerge as the next solar market superpower. The country already lays claim to the largest solar farm in the world – a 648 MW plant covering 10 square kilometers (over 3.5 square miles) and includes 2.5 million modules.

All of these strategies and technologies will be needed to rapidly modernize without making the global climate situation much worse. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to India’s problems.