Subnational Implications from Climate and Air Pollution Policies in India’s Electricity Sector

Abstract

India is the world’s third largest producer of carbon dioxide even though its per capita emissions are very low. As India’s population becomes more affluent and consumes more energy, their power sector, now heavily reliant on coal, will grow. Therefore, greenhouse gas emissions and other types of air pollution likely will also grow unless large changes are made to the electricity production sector. Sengupta et al. present a highly resolved model of Indian power generation and demand that assesses the emission impacts of various power sector policy interventions in India (see the Perspective by Deshmukh and Chatterjee). This analysis provides valuable guidance about the development of the power sector and the costs associated with different development pathways.

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Authors: Shayak Sengupta, Peter J Adams, Thomas A Deetjen, Puneet Kamboj, Swati D’Souza, Rahul Tongia and Ines M L Azevedo