CSP: a long-term solar technology

In the race to achieve India’s National Solar Mission (NSM) targets, one important solar technology is slowly disappearing. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), a solar thermal-based technology for power generation, which showed considerable technical potential, is being sidelined. It is losing out due to economics compared to its rival, solar photovoltaics (PV).

Urban Observatories: A kaleidoscope for cities

Can the application of data science and technology make the urban planning process more responsive to the changing patterns of spatial activity? Largely, yes. What the process needs is the continuous collection and analysis of appropriate urban data that can be envisaged spatially and analysed to obtain various possible types of correlation.

Integrated Power Sector Roadmap for Bihar

Bihar has embarked on several major initiatives that are likely to transform the shape of its power sector. Some of these initiatives are mentioned below.

Connectivity to all villages and provision of 100% access to all rural and urban households:
As a result of this improved access, the state is likely to experience a significant increase in electricity demand in the coming years.

Continued Support for the Implementation of UDAY Initiatives in Karnataka

An important concern with distribution companies (DISCOMs) is the wide gap between the costs incurred and the revenue realised by them. CSTEP proposes to carve out an implementation plan to improve the actual revenue realised for the energy supplied by focusing on three areas:

 

Karnataka Distribution Sector Landscape

The launch of Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) in November 2015 gave new hope to the ailing distribution companies (DISCOMs) in India. Karnataka signed up for UDAY with a view to improve its operational efficiency. The DISCOMs under the scheme have to reduce Aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses to 14.2% , and bring down the gap between average cost of supply (ACS) and average revenue realisation (ARR) to zero by 2019.

Bio-adsorbents: Cost-effective option for ridding industrial wastewater of heavy metals

Reuse of industrial wastewater has been in practice for a long time in India, and this water is mainly used for agriculture purposes in nearby areas. However, this has led to high levels of heavy metal concentration in vegetables grown with industrial wastewater.

SERIIUS

Solar Energy Research Institute for India and the United States (SERIIUS) is a joint research consortium for clean energy research. It was announced under the flagship programme Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) by former US President Barack Obama and former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in November 2009. The Department of Energy (DOE, US) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST, Govt.