Press Release - ‘We need to look beyond stubble burning to improve air quality’
“We need to go beyond the stubble burning issue and include road dust, and emissions from municipal waste, industries, and burning of plastic while dealing with air pollution,” said Shri Rana Gurjeet Singh, Cabinet Minister, Government for Punjab. He was speaking at ‘Vision: Clean Skies for Punjab’, organised by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), one of India’s leading think tanks in Chandigarh.
Policy Matters, December 2021
A monthly newsletter featuring CSTEP commentary, publications, events, and other developments.
Press Release - Study Recommends Differential Pricing for Pumped-hydro Energy Storage in India to Boost RE
A differential pricing mechanism that calculates different pumping and generation prices for pumped-hydro energy storage (PHES) should be employed for its growth in India, recommends a recent study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP).
On 29 November 2021, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced that the country’s total installed renewable energy (RE) capacity (including hydro) had crossed 150 gigawatts (GW), while also setting a new target of reaching 175 GW capacity of RE by 2022.
CSTEP Conducts a Capacity-Building Workshop for the Banaras Hindu University
The Centre for Air Pollution Studies (CAPS) at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) conducted an online workshop on 1 December 2021 for the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) faculty and students.
The capacity-building workshop was organised to help them understand how to collect data from line departments and carry out transportation surveys as part of CAPS's project: Developing Emission Inventory for Non-Attainment Cities in India.
CSTEP Signs MoU With the Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh
CSTEP signed a memorandum of understanding with the Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (APTRANSCO) on 30 November 2021. CSTEP will act as the knowledge partner to APTRANSCO in high impact research projects in Andhra Pradesh. CSTEP will try to develop least-cost pathways for the power sector in the state. CSTEP will also carry out transmission network analysis and grid balancing analysis for integrating high renewable energy in the state.
Vision: Clean Skies for Punjab
The Centre for Air Pollution Studies (CAPS) at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) organised a conference on 9 December 2021 in Chandigarh to discuss the effectiveness of policy measures in Punjab to reduce air pollution and outline a clear air vision for the future.
Press Coverage
Study on Pricing Mechanism for Energy Generated by Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) in India
India plans to install 450 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy (RE) generation capacity by 2030. However, RE is highly intermittent in nature and cannot be dispatched on the basis of real-time demand. Utility-scale energy storage technologies such as battery and pumped-hydro could be the answer to this problem. Pumped-hydro energy storage (PHES) is the oldest and most mature large-scale storage technology and accounts for 96% of global installed energy storage capacity.
Climate Hour: Climate Crisis Basics and COP26
As part of CSTEP's Discussion Series on the Role of Science and Technology in Society,
the Climate team organised 'Climate Hour: Climate Crisis Basics and COP26' on 30 November 2021.
The virtual event discussed the climate crisis and COP26 in detail, and students from various educational institutes participated.
Please watch the recording of the event here.
RE Atlas Can Provide Pre-feasibility Analysis for Setting up Solar Plants to Make OSOWOG a Reality
The Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG), announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of COP26, aims to harness the solar potential and facilitate a faster transition to renewable energy. With the US being the latest country to join the India-led International Solar Alliance, One Sun, One World, One Grid may not be too distant a dream after all.