India has made admirable leaps in bringing cheap and efficient solar power to thousands of households across the country, securing its place as a leader within the international community. But we are far from building a self-sustaining renewable energy system that is equitable for all populations. The push towards cutting consumer tariffs for renewable energy has resulted in its unviable production for private companies, with infrequent and insufficient government subsidies unable to stop driving up the cost for individuals who choose to go green – therefore restricting access to low-income communities.
The story of nuclear power in India began in September 1972, when the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and the project to manufacture and test a nuclear bomb was given a confirmation. Following this approval, the scientists started working on converting their ideas into reality. Apart from designing, minds were also pondering over locating and preparing an appropriate test site for the project, which was commonly called ‘Smiling Buddha’. Almost...
The current state of rooftop installations in India suggests that unless some major technological leap brings down the price of panels drastically, the uptake for rooftop systems at the household scale might not reach the desired levels.
Energy is indispensable and its demand is growing manifold each day. With fossil fuels being finite in nature, alternative energy sources need to be explored. Natural gas hydrate offers a promising source due to its vast occurrence across the world.
Transport fuels are one of the major contributors to green house gas emissions. Despite several alternatives, transportation is still dependant on fossil fuel sources such as petroleum. Biofuels, by partially replacing petroleum, can bring down emissions.
How petroleum prices are regulated in India depends upon an understanding of how the oil industry works. End-users often correlate crude oil price vis-à-vis price of petrol and wonder at the discrepancies ignoring the intermediate stages between the two.
Mining activities are responsible for adverse changes in land use pattern. Ecorestoration is, therefore, essential for bringing back the original characteristics of the land.
There are different types of mining depending upon the techniques employed in the extraction of minerals. Each type has a bearing on varying environmental concerns related to biodiversity, air, water and land.
Nearness to coal deposits has been advantageous to the industrial locations that have to transport the bulkier raw material to production sites. Such locational advantages are, however, losing their tenacity in the present times.
Energy is a critical input for economic development. Almost one third of India’s population do not have access to electricity and a majority of population is still dependent on biomass for their cooking needs.
