Annual Report

2017 - 2018

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Chairman & Founder's Message


Dr VS Arunachalam, Chairman and Founder of CSTEP

The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) continues its mission of using the tools for policy studies in technology areas. This would enable a better understanding of the problems resident in harnessing technologies opportunities that are available. CSTEP has choosen Energy as its main theme for the past few years and has built an impressive array of tools and experience. This has helped in utilising the available energy options more efficiently and has taken us into more esoteric areas using (LiDAR) mounted on a helicopter to estimate the available rooftops for photovoltaics.

Our researchers are also moving to work in other areas such as Air Pollution, Climate Change, Transportation and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In AI especially we are exploring opportunities inheritent in human development and well-being. Even a modest return from AI in human development is promising efficient and powerful tools to explore options that are unavailable through other techniques. Big data has its advantages. We hope to extend such studies to climate change and pollution migration. I congratulate my colleagues who have tirelessly worked in such areas and have built an enviable reputation for their contributions. I am hoping to harness similar poineering in other areas of human developement. The coming year is promising for pursuing such challenges.

Executive director's message


Dr Anshu Bharadwaj, Executive Director of CSTEP

The year 2017 - 2018 was a very eventful and productive year at CSTEP. We initiated serious research programmes in new sector such as air pollution, electrification of transport and use of Artificial Intelligence to address infant health and nutrition. We also commenced research projects in new states such as Bihar, Odisha, Manipur and Laskhadweep. These developements reaffirmed our belief that there is enormous potential for technology to improve the quality of life.

This year we also put dedicated processes in place to strengthen our research quality institutionalised project management and quality control measures. These processes are the pillers for building a strong foundation for the organization This will also enable our research staff to fully utilise their potential and develop as thought leaders.

Highlights


Portfolio


Energy


Over the years, CSTEP has built expertise in the Energy domain, and its work now covers issues related to electric power transmission and distribution, clean energy, climate and energy, and energy-critical materials.

Power Sector

Domain LeadSandhya Sundararagavan


In the Power sector, our studies focus on grid planning. We study technological opportunities and recommend policy measures that can make the transmission and distribution sector energy efficient and improve energy access. We do this through continued engagement with stakeholders in the transmission and distribution sector, at the state level, in areas of renewable grid integration and distribution reforms.

The vision of the team is to provide policy support to utilities and policymakers towards:

  1. Integrating high amounts of renewables to the grid,
  2. Investments required towards strengthening the existing grid,
  3. Implementation of smart-grid technologies, and
  4. Reduction in the aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses in DISCOMs.

Highlights


  • Developed a strategic roadmap to enable distribution utilities in Karnataka to increase their operational efficiency, as envisioned in the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana.
  • Created a GIS-enabled energy planning platform for Karnataka to visualise the impact of high RE scenarios on the transmission grid infrastructure.
  • Analysing system-level implications and providing policy advice for embarking on a high RE trajectory for the southern grid.
  • Outlined an overarching ‘theory of change’, identifying the enabling factors and emphasising the need for developing state-specific strategies towards achieving universally accessible, reliable, affordable and clean power.
  • Developed a strategic roadmap to improve the operational efficiency of distribution utilities in Karnataka.
  • Developed short- and long-term load and energy forecasts for thestate of Karnataka up to 2022.
Funders
  • Shakti Foundation
  • MacArthur Foundation
  • Govt. Of Karnataka

Renewables & Energy Efficiency

Domain LeadSaptak Ghosh


The team’s vision is to provide innovative solutions in terms of design and implementation of Renewable Energy (RE) systems to help India achieve the 175 GW target for 2021-22. The team focuses on decentralised distributed generation from RE sources and linking other sectors with RE to increase profitability in a sustainable manner. Recognising increasing opportunities in alternative sources of energy, CSTEP is working on various projects to build solar energy generation capacities.

Highlights


  • Knowledge partner to BESCOM in its efforts to promote rooftop photovoltaic (RTPV) systems among its consumers.
  • Building a Web-based tool to analyse Bengaluru city’s potential to implement RTPV systems (using LiDAR).
  • Assisted 16 member countries to prepare their solar roadmaps.
  • CSTEP is a designated Knowledge Partner with the International Solar Alliance (ISA), founded in 2015 by India and France to provide a platform for cooperation among solar-resource rich countries.
  • Conducting a technical study on providing stable power to the agricultural sector using dedicated feeders for supplying irrigation pumps.
Funders
  • MacArthur Foundation
  • Govt. Of Karnataka

Climate & Energy Policy

Domain LeadShewta Srinivasan


The team’s vision is to examine pathways for a low-carbon future for India. CSTEP believes that India’s Climate and Energy Policy decisions should emerge from sustainable development policies and measures (SDPAM), rather than a focus on greenhouse gas emission reductions. We envision that policy decisions made on the basis of detailed analysis will enable India’s progression on sustainable development pathways and curb GHG emissions. The issues being considered are:

  1. The dynamic structure of our economy and consumption drivers,
  2. The role of transformative technologies, and
  3. Technology and resources constraints.

Highlights


  • Working closely with the MoEFCC to understand India’s long-term GHG emission pathways.
  • Studying historic emission trends, assessed sectoral contributions and evaluated plausible scenarios for energy efficiency improvements, especially of the state-level policy landscape.
  • Analysis to benchmark India’s climate policy commitments and progress against other countries. The portal developed will enable users to view and compare policies by sector, subsector and policy interventions, and gain a better understanding of the global climate policy landscape.
  • Assessed cost implications of installing pollution control measures and the benefits of implementing emission standards in coal-fired thermal power plants.
  • Initiated work that will help improve understanding of long-term economic drivers by developing datasets and undertaking national economic modelling (Computable General Equilibrium model).
  • CSTEP is the lead sector partner (Energy) in the GHG Platform India, a civil society initiative to estimate GHG emissions at the national and state levels.
Funders
  • Shakti Foundation
  • MacArthur Foundation
  • MoEFCC
  • NITI Aayog

Materials & Storage

Domain LeadDr Mridula Dixit Bharadwaj


CSTEP analyses the techno-economic feasibility of select storage systems for commercial applications. We also evaluate viability of indigenous manufacture of the front runner storage systems for applications in electric transport and storage integrated renewable energy systems. The team is also involved in preparing indigenisation roadmaps for energy critical materials like rare earth. At the R&D side, we aim to predict high-performance novel electrode and electrolyte materials based on theoretical calculations like ab initio (first principles) calculations.

CSTEP is working on the exploration of new materials using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and experimental validation by CSIR-CECRI to discover feasible high-energy and power dense Lithium-Ion batteries. These batteries are expected to be used in Electric Vehicles keeping in mind the high specific capacity and cyclability.

Highlights


  • Analysed the feasibility of solar PV micro-grids as a solution for rural electrification in under Indo-US solar programme, SERIIUS.
  • Developed an e-bus fleet implementation plan for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation.
  • Participated in NITI Aayog’s work related to short- and long-term trategies for the growth of the rare earth sector.
Funders
  • WIPRO
  • Dept. of Science & Technology
  • Shakti Foundation
  • Good Energies

Urban Infrastructure


Transport

Domain LeadVivek Vaidyanathan


CSTEP is engaged in research studies for the public transport utilities in Bengaluru: BMTC and BMRCL. Our work is aimed towards helping these transport utilities better understand their operations and facilitate route planning, optimisation of services and expansion of operations to potential new growth areas.

Highlights


  • Analysing the possibility of BMTC and BMRCL working together to increase the share of public transport in Bengaluru in the GoK-funded project ‘Integration of BMTC and BMRCL’.
  • Evaluating various BMTC initiatives towards improving their operational and non-operational revenue, in a study funded by the Government of Karnataka.

Urban Development

Domain LeadShrimoyee Bhattacharya


Increasing urbanisation has brought complex challenges in meeting higher quality of life standards while ensuring the sustainability of natural and economic resources. CSTEP's vision in this space is to help cities chart out pathways for environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive future. Our current work in this area focusses on evidence-based policymaking and sustainable and inclusive strategies for ecosystem services.

Highlights


  • Building an Urban Observatory (UO) platform for Karnataka to aid policymaking. As a Proof of Concept, the UO platform demonstrates a complete data story on noise pollution.
  • Developing planning strategies for water and sanitation in urban areas in Karnataka based on an Integrated Urban Water Resources Management approach.
  • Developing an inclusive framework in Andhra Pradesh to address gender gaps in the sanitation value chain.
  • Developing a scalable model of a community-based spatial data system as a proof of concept, aimed at building civic capability of the urban poor to track progress on local development priorities.
Funders
  • Govt. Of Karnataka
  • The United Nations Democracy Fund

Health


CSTEP uses its technological expertise to provide policy guidance in various fields relating to human health. One of the fields we focus on is air pollution, which has immense effects on health. We are also using an IT system alongwith an AI-based app to help track and manage the nutritional content in meals provided in Anganwadi centres.

Artificial Intelligence for Development

Domain LeadAshish Srivastava


Artificial Intelligence is one of the most newsworthy technologies of the day. While entrepreneurs and technologists have been involved in it for some time now, 2017 was a watershed year from the perspective of governments and social organisations. China, US, Japan, UK and many other countries have rolled out their policies and discussion papers in this field. We, at CSTEP, believe that the focus of AI-related work should be on real-world issues facing India, and technology should be able to address issues on the ground. Our project in AI is currently aimed at managing health of the mother and child and recommending policies to check malnutrition.

Highlights


  • Initiated work in the AI sector as a strategic initiative, in line with the AI for Good series (the UN’s leading platform for dialogue on AI).
  • Created a high-level strategy blueprint focusing (at present) on the sectors of Health & Nutrition, Urban Planning and Agriculture.
  • Building a multi-sectoral programme called SNEHA aimed at managing the health of children and mothers and providing policymakers with actionable insights towards checking malnutrition in India.
Funders
  • Shakti Foundation
  • Govt. Of Karnataka

Air Pollution

Domain LeadDr Pratima Singh


CSTEP aims to develop a holistic model for addressing poor air quality through an interdisciplinary approach, using scientific evidence, policy assessment and advocacy and outreach.

Tackling air pollution requires disaggregated data. Scientific studies that can identify the source and quantity of pollution at source are important to prepare roadmaps cleaning the air. We are building capacity to conduct research in this domain.

Highlights


  • Developing a clean air plan for Bihar (with consortium members ADRI and Urban Emissions).
  • Carrying out economic and policy analysis of various air pollution control measures in order to make meaningful policy recommendations.
  • Building a high-resolution emission inventory of various activities contributing to Bengaluru’s pollution.
  • Conducting mobile air quality measurements in Bengaluru to identify polluting sources and ensure that policy interventions towards checking air pollution are relevant to the city.
Funders
  • Shakti Foundation
  • MacArthur Foundation
  • MoEFCC
  • NITI Aayog

Tools


CSTEP’s core competence lies in developing and applying modelling and simulation tools (technology design, GIS, etc.) for policy analysis and research. The team develops computational, visualisation and methodological tools for examining potential solutions to complex policy problems. These tools are integrated using a platform called DARPAN (Decision Analysis for Research and Planning) to showcase simulations to policymakers.

Tools for Policy Analysis

Domain LeadRanganathan P


DARPAN

Collaborated with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), to develop an extension of DARPAN. This will be used by stakeholders in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for siting renewable energy plants, areas for reforestation and afforestation, and planning transmission network from these plants.

link: DARPAN

EV Tool

Developed an intuitive interface to visualise and query data and form the implementation roadmap for BMTC. The platform would address replacement of existing diesel buses with electric buses across the city of Bengaluru.

link: Ev Tool

Sanitech

Enhancing functionalities based on extensive consultations with experts and practitioners.

Modified sanitech tool and enhanced functionalties so that the analysis better reflects the complexities in sanitation planning.

Developed various dissemination material for SANITECH, including an animated video explaining the ill effects of inadequate sanitation.

link: Sanitech

Funders
  • Shakti Foundation
  • MacArthur Foundation
  • MoEFCC
  • NITI Aayog

Finance & Human Resources


Finance

Domain LeadDr Bellarmine KC


Our deepening engagement with policymakers, both at the central and state levels, has helped attract new funding from a range of sources. Forays into new research areas such as Air Pollution and use of Artificial Intelligence for maternal and child healthcare has further broadened our diversified donor base.

Given that we do not have a corpus or an endowment, efforts are on to raise long-term core grants and other unrestricted revenue streams which are imperative to retain our research vibrancy.

Human Resources

Domain LeadKavitha Nair


CSTEP’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) successfully organised the annual awareness and sensitisation camp to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace. New ICC formed for Noida office. ICC members personally met new hires immediately after the HR induction, to give them an orientation on related policies at CSTEP.

CSTEP facilitated free medical/vision check-up camp for the staff in the month of February 2018 and April 2018 respectively. The medical camp was organised by Global Insurance in association with Lenskart, Bengaluru.

Filled all open positions within a week of requisition from projects. Our offer acceptance ratio for the year was 86% with most difficulty in hiring from the IT sector.

2017 - 2018


113
Employees
40
Publications
04
Events/Workshop
15
Committees

CSTEP, Noida


CSTEP established its presence in the National Capital Region (NCR) by setting up an office in Noida. Currently, 14 employees work out of the Noida office.

Research efforts in Noida are done in close collaboration with the Bangalore office in areas such as Materials & Storage, Climate & Energy, and Electric Vehicles. This move has also helped us initiate and improve engagement with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Power, Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, NITI Aayog, and the Bureau of Indian Standards.