why indian cities must go for lowcarbon energy
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Why Indian cities must go for low-carbon energy

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Why Indian cities must go for low-carbon energy

Although the adoption of rooftop solar in India has sputtered in residential areas
Abu Dhabi - Emirates Voice

Although per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in urban areas in the global south are still far lower than in the developed world, they are adding substantial load in terms of total emissions. In 2010, India, China, developing Asia, Africa and Latin America comprised about a quarter of total urban GHG emissions from the core sectors of buildings, transport and waste disposal.

In a business-as-usual scenario, those regions are projected to be responsible for about 56 per cent of total urban emissions in 2050, says a new study by the World Resources Institute (WRI). With future electricity demand projected to increase, governments must make decisions now about their future energy infrastructure, said the study entitled "Powering Cities in the Global South".

The study contends that solutions exist that can address the needs of the urban under-served as well as provide economic and environmental benefits to the whole city. They point to three key solutions - speeding up the shift to cleaner cooking; scaling up distributed renewable energy; and increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and appliances - where cities and governments can play an implementing role.

In India, for instance, 80 per cent of all buildings that are projected to stand in 2030 had not yet been built as of 2010. The country is at high risk of locking in decades of future inefficiency, high costs and high emissions, which would lead to costly renovations in the future.

The study found that on an average, residential tariffs increased by 15 per cent and commercial tariffs rose by 16 per cent, an annual increase of roughly six per cent, between financial years 2009 and 2013. As the cost for grid electricity rises and the cost for solar photovoltaic falls, it will become an increasingly appealing option for consumers, it says.

Although the adoption of rooftop solar in India has sputtered in residential areas, even after various incentives, lead author Michael Westphal of WRI's Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities says the prospects for expansion are good. "Our data show that rooftop solar is now within the cost [LCOE - levelised cost of electricity] range of natural gas-fired generation in India," Westphal said.

"We also see the incentives getting better, as many states have adopted net metering policies."

The study points to the encouraging example of Delhi, where net metering exists. Homeowners can either own a solar power system or lease their roof to project developers. The electricity generated from such a system meets the rooftop owner's energy needs, with the excess fed back to the grid.

On household energy use, there has been a substantial increase of cooking gas supply in Indian cities. In urban areas, liquefied petroleum gas use has been growing at about 10 per cent per year and now about 65 per cent of urban residents use LPG, co-author David Satterhwaite of the International Institute for Environment and Development said.

"The subsidies for cylinders have helped," Satterhwaite said. "The government could also help to catalyse new consumer finance models that address the cost issue for poorer households."

Given that India is on the cusp of massive urbanisation and per capita energy use intensity in cities is expected to rise rapidly, it is imperative that it moves on a new low-carbon development pathway for the well-being of the people and for long-term economic productivity, says Westphal.

"The enabling conditions are critical, including getting the prices right and adopting supporting policies. India has adopted a number of RE [renewable energy] fiscal and regulatory policies and targets at the national level, and these could be strengthened and additional policies adopted at the state and local levels."

Carbon intensity of urban power grids will decline in the coming years in India. "Currently, the electricity grid is pretty dirty, but it will likely decrease as the country relies less on coal and scales up RE," Westphal said.

Ultimately, all countries need to adopt a price on carbon. "All countries, including India, need fossil fuel subsidy reform," said Westphal. "The IMF has calculated that post-tax subsidies amounted to about $300 billion in India in 2014. Fossil fuel subsidies are subsidies to pollute the environment and damage people's health, and furthermore, they disproportionately benefit the wealthy."

Source: Khaleej Times

 

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

why indian cities must go for lowcarbon energy why indian cities must go for lowcarbon energy

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

why indian cities must go for lowcarbon energy why indian cities must go for lowcarbon energy

 



GMT 10:31 2014 Tuesday ,23 December

Mirages of failure: Lebanon cannot wait

GMT 16:17 2018 Thursday ,30 August

Five Saudi women pilots granted GACA licences

GMT 05:38 2017 Tuesday ,05 September

Serious need for progress in the peace process

GMT 00:18 2017 Wednesday ,22 February

Mugabe marks 93rd birthday with faltering TV interview

GMT 12:48 2017 Tuesday ,09 May

King, Egyptian president hold talks

GMT 18:03 2017 Friday ,17 November

HH Sheikha Moza Witnesses Opening of 2017 WISE Summit

GMT 07:18 2017 Monday ,19 June

ARC Secretary General Najla Al Shamsi in Riyadh

GMT 08:18 2013 Thursday ,31 October

\'Early medication for HIV is cost-effective\'

GMT 19:23 2017 Monday ,23 January

80 Houthi Militants Killed in Airstrikes

GMT 22:44 2017 Friday ,21 July

HM King ratifies, issues 4 laws

GMT 13:34 2016 Saturday ,29 October

Biden ‘tops Clinton list for secretary of state’

GMT 20:00 2017 Saturday ,15 July

Bahrain condemns terrorist attack in Giza

GMT 09:20 2017 Wednesday ,05 July

Mohamed bin Zayed receives phone call

GMT 14:18 2012 Sunday ,13 May

Why some men hide in bathrooms

GMT 12:26 2012 Thursday ,28 June

Pakistan releases Indian spy

GMT 20:33 2013 Friday ,09 August

New menswear brand Pin Collar Shirts launches

GMT 13:43 2013 Wednesday ,06 November

Urban Retreat announces launch of debut skincare line

GMT 15:59 2017 Wednesday ,13 September

Nahyan bin Zayed, Abdullah bin Hamad offer condolences

GMT 09:47 2017 Wednesday ,29 November

UAE has what it takes to become the future capital

GMT 18:14 2017 Friday ,03 March

The Moroccan artist Hakim prepares new song
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice