Battery energy storage (BES) technology is set to play a crucial role in helping India achieve net -zero carbon emission goals. The country is committed to increasing the renewable energy (RE) share in power generation by 40% and reducing carbon emissions by 33-35%, by 2030. Currently, the share of RE in the primary energy-supply mix is approximately 20%. This is projected to reach 100% by 2050.

Karnataka is leading in installed RE capacity among Indian states and has the technical potential for further growth. The state-run power generating company, Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), can transition to RE and contribute to the state’s renewable mix. KPCL can also optimize operations of its coal assets by offering generation flexibility through thermal-RE bundling and exploring alternative revenue streams.

Electricity generation companies (GENCOs) are currently in the throes of a transition. There is ample availability of renewable energy (RE), and that too at a price cheaper than that charged by conventional power plants. Therefore, power demand from distribution companies (DISCOMs) is shifting from coal-based thermal power plants to RE power plants.

Fe2+ doping in II-VI semiconductors, due to the absence of energetically accessible multiple spin state configurations, has not given rise to interesting spintronic applications. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time that the interaction of homogeneously doped Fe2+ ions with the host CdS nanocrystal with no clustering is different for the two spin states and produces two magnetically inequivalent excitonic states upon optical perturbation.

Climate resilience is the ability to anticipate, absorb, accommodate, and recover from the effects of a potentially hazardous event. The benefits of resilient power infrastructure are much greater than the costs, considering growing climate change events. It is estimated that for every dollar invested in climate resilient infrastructure, six dollars can be saved. According to the World Bank, if the actions needed for resilience are delayed by ten years, the cost will almost double.

A monthly newsletter featuring CSTEP commentary, publications, events, and other developments.

A monthly newsletter featuring CSTEP commentary, publications, events, and other developments.

India is one of the few countries where environment education is compulsory at all levels of formal education. The concepts introduced at school are centred on the need to conserve for future generations, halt resource depletion, reduce pollution, and protect wildlife, with very limited focus on the effects of greenhouse gases, impacts of chlorofluorocarbons, and other topics of immediate concern.

Forest fires are on a rampage in Uttarakhand. Snow on the Tibetean plateau aka the world’s roof, surrounded by Mount Everest and K2, two of the highest mountains in the world, is melting at a rapid rate. The national capital witnessed one of the coldest Novembers recently, with temperature dipping to 10 degree Celsius. Do we need more reasons to realise the world is on the edge of a precipice?