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Green hydrogen can be the transitional solution required to reduce anthropogenic emissions and enhance energy independency from fossil fuel. To improve green hydrogen adoption, a cluster-based infrastructure, called a hydrogen hub, is devised taking into account the demand-supply interplay coupled with transport ease. In this paper, we have identified sites across states that are conducive for hydrogen hubs. It involves a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) framework deployed to assign priorities within competing set of criteria. A comprehensive analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used to rank criteria that are connected to establish a functioning hydrogen hub. These criteria include, but not limited to, proximity to refineries, fertilizer plants, substations, chlor-alkali units, steel manufacturing plants, water availability, access to gas pipelines, railway line access, and finally distance to highways. Our analyses indicate that proximity to refineries and fertilizers scored higher (scores directly proportional to importance) while railway line access scored the least. These prioritised scores are used to spatially locate sites using geographical information system. In a total of thirteen states identified, Gujarat had the largest parcel of most suitable land for setting up hydrogen hub followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. For India to set up a functioning hydrogen economy and achieve green hydrogen goals, it is important to identify states that can drive the agenda forward. This paper illustrates a way (amongst many available ways) to identify states based on their strength and capability to fulfil the national goal of 5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030. • The paper addresses setting up of green hydrogen hubs in India based on a multi-criteria site selection framework. • Nine selection criteria covering aspects of hydrogen ecosystem proposed to identify site(s) suitable for hydrogen hubs. • Integration of AHP and GIS is used to ascertain land parcels where hydrogen economy can sustain across states in India. • Zones in 13 states were identified as potential hydrogen hubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GEP (Generation Expansion Planning) is one of the most complex tasks in which planning is done to find the best possible distinct solutions to install new generating units to meet future load demands. This paper uses the Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP) software environment to analyse the GEP for the AP Power sector from 2021 to 2050. In recent years, the AP power sector has faced several issues, such as frequent service cuts due to power shortages. In this paper, five scenarios such as Business As Usual (BAU), Low Demand Growth (LDG), High Demand Growth (HDG), Least Cost Optimization (LCO) and Climate Mitigation Scenarios, have been analysed with environmental, technical, and economic parameters. This study has estimated the total environmental emissions and total cost of all scenarios. At present, Andhra Pradesh has a total installed capacity of 25.4 GW. The best scenarios can be selected based on environmental impact, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and reliability. The results show that the LDG scenario will be an optimal choice for AP due to the state's economic crisis, and the government should also focus on energy conservation and limit demand growth to 4.5%. While presenting a general GEP, the study presents comprehensive system performance scenarios from which planners can choose. • Making a generation expansion planning • Making a sustainable environment • Presented a good solution for power generation • Analysed the total environmental emissions • Analysed the energy demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present universal energy framework and expenditure rate are considerably more startling because of the massive increase in electrical power demand. Comprehensive generation through conventional fossil fuels is one of the fundamental causes and contributors to several environmental problems. Therefore, there has arisen a necessity for ecologically sound and sustainable alternative energy sources. Renewable energy resources (RER) may be extremely functional for environmental and economic goals. Solar energy is the most auspicious of RER and this industry has flourished enormously during the last decade. Photovoltaic cells are spreading in popularity because they are sustainable, clean, and efficient modes of power generation. Researchers are endeavoring meticulously to select superior photovoltaic materials. In this paper, a real-time multi-objective solar-thermal power dispatch problem is framed and optimized for two different photovoltaic materials by using the novel α- constrained simplex method (ACSM). The presented problem is developed to satisfy cost and environmental objectives for Tirumala in the Andhra Pradesh state of India, for two test systems. In the first test system, polycrystalline silicon is used as the photovoltaic material, whereas Copper Indium Gallium Selenide is employed in the second test system. The results of both test systems are compared with each other to procure the finer material. Also, the outturns attained by using ACSM are collated with particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the evolutionary method (EM). The results reveal the precedence of ACSM over PSO and EM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Water withheld to maintain a certain level of reliability are a cost that are not evaluated in catchment wide studies. • Greater reliability is not always beneficial, as the value of water held to maintain a level of reliability is ignored. • Once considered on a system wide basis, the benefits of greater levels of reliability become circumspect. • Changing the level or reliability in an irrigation system will not affect all regions and parts of that system equally. Increasing water reliability in a catchment requires reducing the total quantity of water available to users in some years in order to supply it in more years when its supply is constrained. Thus, the more reliable the supply the more water that needs to be withheld. Consequently, increased levels of water reliability to a catchment, which reduces the costs associated with an unreliable supply, often comes at an incremental increase in costs that researchers do not consider; that of the water foregone that could be have been used productively if the system had been run less reliably. In this paper the trade-offs between the costs of water foregone to maintain a level of reliability and the costs associated with an unreliable supply of water at different levels of reliability in an irrigation system are discussed. The concepts developed are applied to the irrigation sector in the Musi catchment in Andhra Pradesh, India from 2011 to 2040. In this catchment it was found that the costs of water foregone to increase reliability rise as the level of reliability rises, while the benefits generally fall. When the level of reliability exceeded approximately 85% (where water is so scarce that it is used on only the most valuable output), the costs of greater reliability exceed the benefits resulting in net losses to the system. These results were found to vary in each demand centre across the catchment. These results have implications for those considering innovations that improve the level of reliability in a catchment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a preliminary Wind Power Potential (WPP) assessment for coastal site Bheemunipatnam located in the northern region of Andhra Pradesh, India. The novelty and major contribution of this paper stems from the fact that till date WPP has been done only up to the height of 80 m and no one has attempted it up to the height of 150 m in the steps of 10 m for said site. Power law has been used to estimate WPP at these heights. The paper will be a guiding document for policy makers, power and energy engineers as well as for researchers working in this area for providing solution to the problem of burgeoning gap between demand and supply of energy. The Cubic Factor (CF) method and Weibull model have been subjected in the present analysis. The long-term daily wind speed data for the period of 32 years (1983–2014) at a 10 m height has been collected from NASA website. In addition, Weibull and cumulative distribution functions have been determined at different heights. Finally, comparison of mean Wind Power Density (WPD) obtained from both the models has been statistically investigated, tested, and presented in section 5 and 6, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Having achieved remarkable improvements in basic education, India now faces the issues of low learning levels, and a high dropout rate. This paper examines whether the learning crisis is responsible for students dropping out of school using unique panel data that followed nearly 1000 Indian children from 2002 to 2013. We discover that literacy skills acquired by the age of 12 have long-lasting, positive effects on subsequent school progression. We also find that local job opportunities influence school progression. Further, we find that time spent on household chores negatively affects literacy acquirement during primary school years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to draw attention to two important, but less researched, areas regarding low fee private school provision in India. Firstly, the paper evaluates the impact of fees on household debt burden and decision-making, and secondly highlights the dynamic interplay between the private and government sub-sectors and the potential consequences this may have for educational delivery. The paper attempts to provide an overview of the historic growth, extent and performance of low fee private schools and private tutoring. Consistent with others, the paper finds that private provision is not currently accessible to the poorest and thus potentially deleterious to equity both within schools and within families. While drawing on existing research and particularly the longitudinal Young Lives data sets in Andhra Pradesh – findings are largely exploratory. The paper concludes that there is a need for further research on both household and school effects related to increasing privatisation in education. In particular there is a focus on how emerging inequalities emanating from school choice and private tuitions can be addressed. This is urgently needed to inform policy and investment decisions that maximise the contribution of both sectors and mitigate against inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of low T c SQUID (Superconducting Quantum Interference Device) based TDEM (Time Domain Electro-Magnetic) system for geophysical applications. The SQUID system has been used to perform central loop TDEM sounding measurements near Tumallapalle Uranium mine, Cuddapah (dt), AP, India, where the terrain consists of a thin conducting layer below which low grade Uraniferous Phosphatic Siliceous Dolostone is present. Locating the thin conducting layer which is covered by a thick and highly resistive layer is a challenging task due to the induction of weak eddy currents. In order to enhance the resolution of the target located at larger depth, it is essential to apply larger transmitter moment and use a sensitive receiver. In this work, we combine the use of sensitive SQUID sensor and transmitter loop with larger size to achieve better target resolution. The survey has been performed using transmitter loop sizes of 100 m × 100 m and 400 m × 400 m. In order to compare the performance of the SQUID based TDEM system, the same experiments have also been repeated using induction coil as receiver which has been built for this work. In this article, we describe in detail the results obtained from the central loop TDEM measurements. • TDEM sounding measurements with low Tc SQUID at Tumallapalle, AP, India. • Experimental site is a thin conductive layer buried under high resistive layer • Enhanced depth of investigation with transmitter moment • Better target resolution achieved by SQUID compared to fluxgate and induction coil [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sample Size Determination (SSD) is a crucial step in sampling design. • Bayesian, mixed Bayesian-likelihood (MBL) and frequentist SSD approaches compared. • Bayesian and MBL SSD approach account for uncertainty about design parameters. • Various SSD criteria derived from probability distribution of credible intervals. • Legacy data on Zn concentration in soil used for postulating prior distributions. A crucial decision in designing a spatial sample for soil survey is the number of sampling locations required to answer, with sufficient accuracy and precision, the questions posed by decision makers at different levels of geographic aggregation. In the Indian Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme, many thousands of locations are sampled per district. In this paper the SHC data are used to estimate the mean of a soil property within a defined study area, e.g., a district, or the areal fraction of the study area where some condition is satisfied, e.g., exceedence of a critical level. The central question is whether this large sample size is needed for this aim. The sample size required for a given maximum length of a confidence interval can be computed with formulas from classical sampling theory, using a prior estimate of the variance of the property of interest within the study area. Similarly, for the areal fraction a prior estimate of this fraction is required. In practice we are uncertain about these prior estimates, and our uncertainty is not accounted for in classical sample size determination (SSD). This deficiency can be overcome with a Bayesian approach, in which the prior estimate of the variance or areal fraction is replaced by a prior distribution. Once new data from the sample are available, this prior distribution is updated to a posterior distribution using Bayes' rule. The apparent problem with a Bayesian approach prior to a sampling campaign is that the data are not yet available. This dilemma can be solved by computing, for a given sample size, the predictive distribution of the data, given a prior distribution on the population and design parameter. Thus we do not have a single vector with data values, but a finite or infinite set of possible data vectors. As a consequence, we have as many posterior distribution functions as we have data vectors. This leads to a probability distribution of lengths or coverages of Bayesian credible intervals, from which various criteria for SSD can be derived. Besides the fully Bayesian approach, a mixed Bayesian-likelihood approach for SSD is available. This is of interest when, after the data have been collected, we prefer to estimate the mean from these data only, using the frequentist approach, ignoring the prior distribution. The fully Bayesian and mixed Bayesian-likelihood approach are illustrated for estimating the mean of log-transformed Zn and the areal fraction with Zn-deficiency, defined as Zn concentration <0.9 mg kg −1, in the thirteen districts of Andhra Pradesh state. The SHC data from 2015–2017 are used to derive prior distributions. For all districts the Bayesian and mixed Bayesian-likelihood sample sizes are much smaller than the current sample sizes. The hyperparameters of the prior distributions have a strong effect on the sample sizes. We discuss methods to deal with this. Even at the mandal (sub-district) level the sample size can almost always be reduced substantially. Clearly SHC over-sampled, and here we show how to reduce the effort while still providing information required for decision-making. R scripts for SSD are provided as supplementary material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of hydro geochemical exploration for sub-surface uranium mineralization is becoming significant due to the geochemical properties of uranium. The oxygen in natural water enhances the mobility of uranium by the complexing action of carbonates and bicarbonates with oxidized uranyl ions. The uranium and its decay products (i.e., radium group) can be used as good tracers for pinpointing uranium mineralization. The basement complex in the south of Cuddapah basin comprises granite, gneiss-migmatites and patches of greenstone belts. There are different generation of fractures and mafic dykes trending E–W, N S, NW-SE and NE–SW directions. The NNE–SSW to NE–SW trending fractures are youngest and often show higher uranium values in water along the same trend indicating possible mineralization. The fractures are often intruded by younger basic intrusive rocks and quartz reefs which often show high uranium content. Several NE–SW to NNE–SSW trending fracture zones with uranium mineralization are observed in the areas around Shivaramapuram-Nutankalva, Kamaguttapalle and T. Sundupalle villages. These sympathetic fracture zones are important for further sub-surface exploration. The present focus is given on a NE-SW fracture zone along Sivaramapuram–Nutanakalva tract extends over a strike length of ~15 km with a plan width of ~1 to 1.5 km. The tract is mostly soil covered and rock outcrops are scanty. Radioactive anomalies are located at small outcrops in fractured basic dyke, fractured and altered granite, deformed quartz vein, sludge samples collected from private village drilling sites, Pincha river channel sands and soils (U 3 O 8 values up to 0.19% (β/γ); n = 44;). Hydrogeochemical exploration along this fracture zone has indicated anomalous concentration of uranium in water samples ranging from 100 to 19,434 ppb U (n = 110). Selective borewells have been monitored for 8 months to check the seasonal variation. The data remain persistent and indicated encouraging outcome. This NE–SW fracture zone has affected the Nagari quartzite of Cuddapah Supergroup, thus indicate Post Nallamalai Mesoproterozoic Grenville orogeny, which is metallogenically favourable epoch for fracture controlled uranium mineralization. The surface anomalies vis-a-vis the hydro uranium anomalies and suitable geochemical condition along the NE-SW trending fracture make this zone a potential target for further sub-surface exploration. • The application of hydro geochemical exploration for sub-surface uranium mineralization is the topic of the paper. • the study area is mainly a granitoid province where a soil covered concealed fracture controlled uranium mineralization is being reported. • NE-SW trending fracture zone showed upto 19434 ppb uranium content in water. • Radioactive anomalies are located at small outcrops exposed near Sivarampuram in fractured basic dyke [0.13 and 0.19% U 3 O 8 (β/γ; n =2)] and Katramuduku in fractured granite [0.014 to 0.135% U 3 O 8 (β/γ); n =3]. • These surface anomalies vis-a-vis the hydro uranium anomalies and suitable geochemical condition along the NE-SW trending fracture make this zone a potential target for further sub-surface exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A solar polygeneration system is proposed. • It produces three key utilities viz. electricity, hot water, and hot air. • 3E (energy, exergy, economic) analysis is conducted. • The proposed Energy technology is technically feasible and economically viable. • For commercialization this, innovative business model supported by Govt. policy is required. Sustainable development goal 13 emphasizes on climate change, due to which there is an urgent need for a transition towards sustainable energy technologies. There are two key issues on the commercialization of renewable energy technologies viz. performance (efficiency) and economic viability. This paper conducts a 3E (Energy, Exergy, Economic) analysis for a novel off-grid solar polygeneration energy technology producing electricity using the solar PV and hot water along with hot air using the solar thermal system. The analysis has been carried out across four Indian provinces such as Andhra Pradesh (AP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Uttarakhand (UTK) located in four climatic zones. For the solar PV unit, the amount of annual electricity production in kWh are 1748, 1799, 1629, 1434 in mentioned four states, and the annual Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) in ₹/kWh are 9.8, 9.6, 10.5, 12 for AP, MP, UP, and UTK respectively. The values of annual average energy efficiency of the solar thermal system in percentage are 64.6 for AP, 64.5 for MP, 64.2 for UP, and 58.3 for UTK, while exergy efficiency are found to be 1.3, 1.4, 1.2, and 0.7 in percentage for the mentioned states. For the solar thermal unit, the values of payback period in years are obtained to be 5.2, 5.5, 7.5, 9.4 and the values of Benefit-Cost ratio (BCR) are 1.32, 1.25, 0.90, 0.73 for AP, MP, UP, and UTK respectively. An innovative business model coupled with utility policy is required for large-scale deployment of these sustainable energy technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently explored sites, Kandhanthi and Mekala benchi are situated in the western part of the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, South India. This is considered to be one of the richest archaeological hubs in the world of the primitive man activities. Substantial Rock Art in the form of petroglyphs, stone tools, and potsherd discovered in these sites dates back to Neolithic, Megalithic and Historical periods indicating the cultural continuity of the human race. However, the main aim of the present investigation is to record the socio-cultural profile and communicative activities of the early man. It also attempts to study the Geo-Archaeological implications of the area. The primitive man and his palaeo-art activities can well be established by knowing the geological and environmental history of the archaeological sites. This work also assayed to inter-relate the socio-cultural conditions of the primitive man activities to the present human activities at and around the investigated sites. Hence, this paper attempts to document the historicity of the newly explored sites in archaeological, ethno-archeological, and geological perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]