Energy is a key factor in combating climate change, one of the biggest challenges the world is facing today. India has committed to cutting emissions to net zero by 2070 and set ambitious targets for adopting renewable energy. Achieving these targets requires careful planning and an overhaul of our current energy system.
Our work aims at enabling policies that encourage the adoption of rooftop solar, facilitate the development of technology for energy storage, strengthen the grid and transmission infrastructure, advance hydrogen technologies, and promote green mobility. CSTEP's research looks at the various aspects of mainstreaming renewable energy for a cleaner, greener energy sector.
How an International Power Grid Will Help Optimise Our Solar Power Use
- In all countries, the clean energy transition comes with the problem of grid-balancing: matching the supply of power with its demand, owing to the intermittence of renewable energy.
- At the COP26 climate talks, India launched the ‘Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One Grid’, the first international network of a global solar power grid – with the UK.
- Under the GGI-OSOWOG initiative, the Indian grid can initially be connected to Africa, which accounts for 40% of total global horizontal irradiance.
- The India-Africa inter
OPINION: Exploring New Options to Electrify Process Heating in MSMEs
The benefits of switching to electric process-heating technologies are evident. Traditionally, process heat is provided at temperatures well above the required levels, while electrical process-heating technologies deliver heat at precise temperatures.
Empowering Kudagaon with a Mini-Grid
In 2016, we at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) were studying the electrification status of various villages in Karnataka. The exercise gave us interesting insights into the scope of employing technologies like solar photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids to electrify such areas, where grid extension is not feasible. This motivated us to further investigate the last-mile electricity solutions. For getting deeper into the energy access issue, we decided to implement a mini-grid pilot project and better understand the ground realities.
Kudagaon Pilot: Beating the odds
The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) implemented the mini-grid pilot project during 2018–19 in Kudagaon, an un-electrified remote island on the Mahanadi River, in the Angul district of Odisha, where three generations of indigenous people live.
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.
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.
Power Sector Commitments at COP26 – How To Achieve Them
India’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are 2.5 GtCO2 per year, which is very low compared to the highest emitting countries, such as the United States (10 GtCO2 per year) and China (5 GtCO2 per year). However, it is commendable that at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held recently in Glasgow, India set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions from its energy sector.
Electric Vehicle Demand Projection for Bengaluru and Power Demand Management
According to data from the International Energy Agency (2020) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (2018), it is estimated that more than 90% of CO2 emissions from the transport sector is from road transport. The Government of India (GoI) has taken several steps to electrify the transport sector. In 2013, India expanded its decarbonisation vision by launching the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) for 2020.