CSTEP Studies Identify Solutions to Reduce Air Pollution in Bengaluru
While Bengaluru’s deteriorating air quality is a cause for concern, interventions targeted at polluting sources can help reduce pollution levels, according to the studies released by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). The studies—‘Emission Inventory and Pollution Reduction Strategies for Bengaluru’ and ‘Identification of Polluting Sources for Bengaluru’— identified polluting sources/activities or hotspots, which has been a significant challenge for policymakers working in the air pollution sector.
Performance Assessment of Low-Cost PM2.5 Sensors
Air pollution monitoring is an important aspect of air quality management. Strategically placed sensors can monitor air pollution and provide detailed information on air quality and its variability within a region. Low-cost sensors (LCSs) that measure PM2.5 (particulate matter with a size less than or equal to 2.5 microns) are becoming increasingly popular for monitoring air pollution because of their low cost and portability.
The Challenges of Communicating Policy & How Stories Rescue Us
- The problem: It’s often not easy to explain what ‘policy’ is and why it matters.
- Why it matters: To participate in policy decision-making – the foundation of any democracy – citizens need to understand what’s at play.
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Warming Up to Climate Action – Agriculture and Buildings
This series of articles is a joint editorial initiative of ETEnergyworld and CSTEP. It will discuss some of the key sectors in terms of their contribution to India's total greenhouse gas emissions. In the first part of this series, we discussed the transport sector from a climate point of view and argued that a transport decarbonisation strategy should include diverse options for all segments to complement electrification.
Rooftop Solar-Based EV Charging in India: A Techno-Economic Comparison
Decentralised renewable energy resources for electric vehicle (EV) charging pave the way for green mobility. In this paper, we analyse different rooftop solar-based EV charging station (EVCS) configurations. The configurations are designed with and without battery storage and grid connection. A techno-economic framework is developed based on the power flow interactions between rooftop photovoltaic (RTPV), grid, and battery storage to calculate the life-cycle costing of the system and life-cycle cost of energy (LCOE).
Financially Solvent Utilities for Improved Energy Access
Electricity distribution utilities drive the expansion of energy access and the transition to clean energy. With the COVID-19 pandemic deteriorating the financial health of utilities, measures at operational, institutional, financial, and commercial levels should be initiated to make utilities economically sound and future-ready.
Green Hydrogen Superpower
Every year, India’s energy consumption from fossil fuels is worth approximately Rs 7 trillion. Adding other monetary expenses such as taxes and subsidies would further increase the expenditure, creating an even bigger energy exchequer for the government. To meet the climate goals, it is imperative to see the amount of fossil-free energy in the energy exchequer. From a sustainable development standpoint, for benefits to outweigh costs, decarbonisation of the energy sector is the need of the decade.
Warming Up to Climate Action – the Transport Sector
The year 2021-22 has been a milestone year in many ways for climate action in India. While a lot more could have been done (as is always the case), the wins cannot be ignored. The highlight was of course India’s ‘net zero by 2070’ announcement at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), along with other announcements on short-term targets for renewable energy and emissions reduction.
Think in Systems To Deliver India’s Long-term Climate Strategy
The 2015 Paris Agreement required countries to submit their long-term climate action strategies by 2020. At COP26, India made a surprise announcement of a target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, which means it will aim to balance the amount of carbon dioxide emitted with the amount absorbed.
Budget 2022: What To Look For
The year 2021 was a year of mixed fortunes. On the one hand, we witnessed India crossing 100 GW of installed renewable energy, while on the other, the pandemic took a toll on communities at large. Many of the efforts that had started at a good clip in early 2021 saw considerable slowing down mid-year due to the pandemic. The past year also had approximately 12GW of solar energy capacity installed, more than 250% compared to 2020.