Future energy transitions in India: an assessment of new and renewable energy technologies (Thesis)

Shukla, P. R. (Guide) Thesis advisory committee: Prof. P. R. Shukla (Chairperson), Prof. Pankaj Chandra & Prof. R .H. Dholakia

The objective in this study is to analyse the past and future transition drivers and assess possible future energy transitions in India with a focus on assessing the future potential of the environmentally cleaner new and renewable energy technologies. The objectives of this study are proposed to be met by answering the following questions: (1) What are the energy transitions visible in the Indian primary energy system over the preceding decades? (2) How have the technology markets developed in the New and Renewable energy technologies? (3) What are the drivers and possible scenarios of future Indian energy transitions in the 21st century? (4) What will be the penetration of New and Renewable Energy Technologies and effect on other energy and emission parameters under different scenarios? (5) What policies can promote sustainable energy transitions in India? The research offers a number of insights for the Indian energy system dynamics in a 100 year time frame. Firstly, the high fossil fuel content of the energy system is leading India on an unsustainable path of rising carbon emissions and increasing energy security concerns. Various sectoral energy transitions are simultaneously happening, electricity usage is increasing and gas is currently a favoured fuel for new power plants. Secondly, past experience learning curves suggest that there are several promising new energy technologies that could dominate energy systems in the long term such as renewable energy(solar, wind, geothermal), biomas, hydrogen and fuel cell, nuclear fusion and the carbon storage and disposal technologies that would allow continued use of fossil fuels at zero emissions.