Shifting towards renewable energy is key to addressing India's challenges of climate change and energy security, without compromising on developmental aspirations. CSTEP is working on the two paths of increasing the use of clean energy and reduction of energy wastage to achieve this objective. Our work involves finding clean (and cost-effective) energy solutions for industries, developing innovative models for solar energy generation, and collaborating with policymakers on implementation strategies for renewables.
How well is India tapping its rooftop solar potential?
Rooftop solar (RTS) has the potential to revolutionise India’s energy landscape, offering a sustainable, decentralised, and affordable solution to meet the country’s growing electricity needs and making consumers self-reliant. The country’s installed RTS capacity increased by 2.99 GW in 2023-2024, the highest growth reported in a year. As of March 31 this year, the total installed RTS capacity in India was 11.87 GW, per the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Decarbonising the MSME manufacturing sector in India
Small industries or micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are a crucial sector in India’s development. They have a large carbon footprint, partly because of the nature of energy consumption, with over 80% of the energy consumed being required for thermal processes to produce heat (e.g. in boilers and furnaces). These thermal energy demands have traditionally been met through fossil fuel sources (such as coal, natural gas, and pet coke), making MSMEs a hard-to-abate sector.
Press Release: Scope for deep decarbonisation in the MSME manufacturing sector
Bengaluru, 28 June 2024: The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute to 31% of India’s gross domestic product, almost 50% of exports, and 57% of all employment in manufacturing sectors, making them crucial to the economy. However, they are highly energy- and emission-intensive.
Scope for deep decarbonisation in the MSME manufacturing sector
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) industries are still majorly dependent on fossil fuels for their energy requirements, making them particularly susceptible to increasing fuel prices. With energy costs having a substantial share in the overall manufacturing costs, the need for sustainable alternatives is crucial. Decarbonisation of MSMEs is necessary to reduce fossil fuel dependency in the industrial sector.
Could MSMEs provide a second chance for solar thermal technologies?
India’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) target has been updated to achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
Senior Associate
The candidate must be well versed in the technical and policy aspects of the Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) domains. She/he should meet the requirements related to project proposals, deliverables, and schedule, and should be able to coordinate and communicate effectively with internal and external teams to meet the project objectives. The candidate will contribute to formulating strategies and recommendations to drive effective policy advocacy at the state and national level.
Senior Analyst
The candidate must be well versed in the technical and policy aspects of the power sector. She/he should meet the requirements related to project proposals, deliverables, and schedules, and should be able to coordinate and communicate effectively with internal and external teams to meet the project objectives.
Responsibilities
Analyst
The candidate must be well versed in the technical and policy aspects of the power sector and have a strong functional knowledge of GIS techniques and applications. She/he should meet the requirements related to project proposals, deliverables, and schedules. The candidate should also be able to coordinate and communicate effectively with internal and external teams to meet the project objectives.
Responsibilities