Search

India has abundant solar power assets. Many districts get better than expected insulation compared with different parts of the world. The essential innovation for incorporating and changing sun‐based energy into electrical energy in India depends on photovoltaic (PV) cells. Concentrated solar power (CSP) plants have barely added to the nation's general introduced solar‐based force limit. The difficulties that have restrained the development of CSP and CST are part of the discussion and potential arrangements recommended. The primary difficulties for CSP and CST are identified as the absence of a dependable direct normal irradiance database, indigenous assembling, and rivalry from PV. The after‐effects of a contextual analysis evaluated the effect of indigenous assembling and economies of scale on capital expenses and levelized cost of power. We will evaluate the current status of CSP plants in this paper. The paper shows different incorporated technologies in solar thermal application in India with indigenous manufacturing and the energy policy supporting the solar thermal analyzing the barriers to implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. Also, the techno‐economic evaluation of the CSP and CST is covered. This paper provides a framework of CSP and CST technology in India's industrial sector with their impact on goods and services provided by the sector and the cost‐effectiveness of the product and technology. Furthermore, the environmental aspects and base electrical load accumulating are researched, and various policy measures and amendments are suggested to the government from this study‐based study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an enquiry into the role of State policies in influencing wind installed capacity. The paper studies the impact of policies on deployment of wind potential across the States of India over two decades. Aggregate indices are computed for each of the seven wind resourceful States of India indicating attractiveness for installed capacity of wind energy. For computing the indices, four policies, Feed-in-Tariff, Renewable Purchase Obligation, Banking facility, and Wheeling charges are considered. Panel data techniques are then employed to investigate the impact of the policy differences on wind potential deployment over the 19 year period (1993–2012) after controlling for three State-specific factors. The controlling factors include per-capita income of the State, power deficit, and ratio of installed capacity of wind to geographic potential indicating unmet capacity. The results show that that policy index positively impacts wind deployment whether control variables are included or not. Moreover, the control factors like the per-capita income of the State and unmet capacity have positive influence over the investment in wind energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this communication biomass energy resource, potential, energy conversion and policy for promotion implemented by Government of India are discussed. The total installed capacity for electricity generation in India is 2666.64 GW as on 31st March 2013. Renewable energy is contributed 10.5% of total generation out of which 12.83% power is being generated using biomass. India has surplus agricultural and forest area which comprises about 500 million metric tons of biomass availability per year. In India total biomass power generation capacity is 17,500 MW. At present power being generated is 2665 MW which include 1666 MW by cogeneration. The various category of biomass in India is also discussed in this paper. And the research reveals that India has large potential for bio mass feed stock from different sources. Government of India deployed different policies and executed that the strategies for biomass power generation. Such approaches have included the whole biomass energy sector which incorporated the bio gas, bio diesel etc. in the policies. Government of India has focused on the deployment and development biomass energy sector with strategic policy and program which is notable portion of this review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bio-economy is characterised by aspirations of replacing the fossil-based economy with biobased energy, resources and processes; biofuels are particularly popular. This new shift comes with multiple risks and uncertainties in both industrialised and developing economies. The uptake of biofuels is inextricably linked to and legitimised by policy processes involving a complicated nexus of vested interests, political aspirations, and technological drivers, and a range of associated factors. In this paper we describe the characteristics of and contours along which two national biofuels policies in India and South Africa have been articulated and developed. In doing so we establish how a biofuels regime has gained legitimacy, becoming embedded into policy processes dictated largely through specific networks and reflective of the rationalising effect of global and local narratives. We analyse how pro-poor 'win-win' narratives gained purchase amongst different actors and in turn how they were used as a basis for biofuels policies. The case studies are, however, complex and differentiated, pointing towards sociopolitical nuances and structural subtleties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Well designed Renewable Energy (RE) policies and their effective regulation is the key to promote RE generation in the world. Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism is a market-based policy instrument which facilitates Renewable (Energy) Purchase Obligations (RPOs) in order to increase RE generation in a country. The recently conceived and implemented REC mechanism in India attempts to involve various stakeholders in an economically efficient manner and has been effective in its first year of operation. The paper commences with the background and the genesis of REC mechanism in India. It characterises the REC trading mechanism and analyses the performance of the REC market for the FY 2011–12. Comparing the financial viability for sale of RE by project developers in certain key states, the paper shows that REC mechanism is more profitable than entering into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for sale of RE at Preferential Tariff (Feed-in-Tariffs). Thus, the REC market which has attained a size of 2.3 billion INR in its first year of existence is forecasted to grow manifold in the future and the paper attempts to forecast the market size in near term. Further analysis of the REC market reveals that although there are inherent advantages of the REC mechanism over other methods of promoting growth of RE, the market is currently subject to various distortions and the paper suggests few steps for correcting these distortions by appropriate market re-design. The paper concludes that the REC market mechanism has gained momentum and can effectively promote RE generation in an economically efficient manner, with benefits to all stakeholders, provided it is strictly implemented and continuous corrections are given in the right direction by the market regulator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An innovative energy model is explored for techno-economic feasibility evaluation, taking into consideration the geographical advantages, government policies, regional incentives and energy certificates. In India, two energy certification schemes have been started, namely, the Renewable Energy Certification (REC) mechanism, successfully implemented in India during 2011, and the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) for the Enhanced Energy Efficiency Programme in 2012. This paper reviews the state of the art in designing an energy model at a specific location, with the consideration of solar, wind and ground sources for renewable energy and fossil fuel, to gain optimum performances in energy certificate scenario. The key design issues about boundary and target settings for REC and PAT energy certificates are discussed to review the financial performance of the schemes taking into considerations energy generators, designated consumers and traders in the market. Due to major impact of micro-medium and small industries (MSME) on Indian economy, this paper discusses the possibilities of inclusion of MSME in PAT scheme. One more addition in PAT scheme, with respect to large unit with marginal available fund for technology upgradation/financially sick unit, invites the creation of consolidated fund, which will support technology absorption and role of state Government policies for funding this mechanism. The energy model provides the estimation and prediction of hybrid power generation in regard to the parameters of resource potential, technology, efficiency and consumption pattern. The monitoring, statistical and prediction model with inbuilt mechanism for REC and PAT incentives is explored. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Most studies on household energy choices have considered income and education as suitable proxies for socio-cultural contexts, primarily because the available data on household energy is from census surveys which are mainly household consumption surveys, not focused energy surveys. Acknowledging the existing data constraints, a more focussed household energy survey was designed for rural India with the aim of better understanding determinants of current energy use patterns, energy choices, to measure the impacts of these factors, and importantly, arrive at key policy insights. This paper revisits the definition of access to include for reliability and quality going beyond conventional understanding. It also relooks at the role of gender in household energy choices. Having established that apart from income, socio-cultural factors may have a greater role in determining household energy choices, the model results indicate electricity access would have a positive impact on cooking energy choices only after meeting a minimum threshold requirement. As women move towards more formal employment, the odds of choosing cleaner fuels increase significantly. Thus, while macro-policies may provide important guidelines and the necessary framework, implementation strategies need to be designed at the local level through a participatory approach making energy an integral part of the development paradigm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Kerosene subsidies intended for Indian households have been known for their poor targeting and high fiscal costs. However, the distributional benefits to the 160million households that use kerosene are not well understood. In this paper, the kerosene subsidy is formally assessed as an instrument of income redistribution. The subsidy incidence, progressivity and efficacy of the kerosene subsidy are calculated for the state of Maharashtra, under actual and ideal implementation conditions. The analysis shows that kerosene subsidies are regressive and of minimal financial value to poor rural households. This is in part because household quotas are based on cooking needs, but kerosene is used predominantly for lighting. In urban areas, subsidies are progressive, and provide benefits of up to 5 to 10% of household expenditure among poorer households which lack affordable access to LPG and biomass. Overall, only 26% of the total subsidy value directly reaches households. This analysis suggests that subsidies targeted only to kerosene-dependent urban areas would have a higher efficacy than broad-based subsidies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Energy policy has to have a long-term perspective. To formulate it one needs to know the contours of energy requirements and options. Different approaches have been followed in literature, each with their own problems. A top down econometric approach provides little guidance on policies, while a bottom up approval requires too much knowledge and too many assumptions. Using top-down econometric approach for aggregate overall benchmarking and a detailed activity analysis model, Integrated Energy System Model, for a few large sectors, provides a unique combination for easing the difficulties of policy formulation. The model is described in this paper. Eleven alternate scenarios are built, designed to map out extreme points of feasible options. Results show that even after employing all domestic energy resource to their full potential, there will be a continued rise of fossil fuel use, continued importance of coal, and continued rise of import dependence. Energy efficiency emerges as a major option with a potential to reduce energy requirement by as much as 17%. Scenario results point towards pushing for development of alternative sources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]