An initiative was taken by Ministry of Mines to review the status of the availability of rare earths and energy-critical elements with regard to their status in exploration, extraction and processing technologies along with CSTEP. This report reviews India’s production, consumption and reserves, and also suggests policy initiatives and interventions required from the government for the growth of this sector. 

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants require Direct Normal Solar Irradiance (DNI) data for both design and operation. The availability of DNI data, especially with closer time intervals, until 2010-12 was scarce. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) published a Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) data on Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI). The study developed a methodology to use these GHI and DHI data and arrive at DNI.

The Indian nuclear energy programme is at crossroads with several alternative pathways of industrial development potentially open to it. These possibilities include options for technology selection and development, as well as for organising the efforts of the state-owned entities and private companies. The nuclear energy programme also sets and aspires to target installed capacity through mid-century.

On a per capita basis, India is one of the lowest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, yet it is threatened by the impact of global warming and climate change. The Expert Group on Low Carbon Strategies for Inclusive Growth has evolved a macro-model to fully elucidate the inter-sectoral implications of different mitigation measures and ensure that the low carbon strategies being recommended are mutually consistent with each other. The model output is summarised through two endpoint scenarios: BIG (Baseline, Inclusive Growth) and LCIG (Low Carbon, Inclusive Growth).

Solar Resource Assessment & Technology Roadmap Report: SEI-1

As a large developing country, India’s challenge is to meet its development aspirations in a carbon-constrained world. This study, undertaken by CSTEP, uses Sustainable Development (SD) as the overarching framework and aims at equitable access to energy, clean air and water, food, health and livelihoods and economic growth. The study connects elements of SD in an integrated bottom-up approach to understand the implications for economy, energy trajectories, emissions and costs. Any reduction of CO2 is treated as a co-benefit of the framework mentioned above.

Sand is an essential element in concrete and hence plays an important role in the construction and infrastructure industry in a modern economy. It is typically sourced from riverbeds which are located in ecologically sensitive areas. Hence, excessive mining leads to the degradation of riverbeds, which affects the local groundwater system, potential biodiversity and the recreational potential of these regions. A large quantity of the official sand production per year in Karnataka is currently sourced from riverbed mining, some of which is also imported from neighbouring states.

With increasing trends in road congestion, air pollution, energy demand and emissions, there is a need to look for effective solutions to meet the urban transport demand in Bengaluru. BMTC and Bangalore Metro Rail with their collective network can contribute to an effective and integrated public transport system in the city. The report lists out the imperatives for sustained investments in a bus system. It also provides certain recommendations for supporting the existing bus system which has high network coverage in Bengaluru and serves 50 lakh passenger trips per day. 

The Government of India, through its Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM), Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS), National Manufacturing Policy (NMP) and Make in India, has announced several measures and incentives favouring renewable manufacturers. The National Wind Mission and the Renewable Energy Law also include a variety of measures that would benefit domestic manufacturers. This report comprehensively examines the manufacturing supply chain of different components used in Renewable Energy (RE) systems, especially wind and solar technology, in India.

There are continuing concerns over economic and environmental developments in many countries - some of these have intensified due to prolonged global energy, food and financial crises. In this context, “green economy” was proposed as a means for catalysing renewed national policy development and international cooperation and support for sustainable development. However, there is still a lack of clarity around what “green economy policy” encompasses and how it integrates with national and sub-national priorities and objectives relating to economic growth and poverty eradication.