Energy Transition Challenges for India

Authors

  • Gautam Kalghatgi Retired. Currently also Consultant Research Professor, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Keywords:

Primary energy sources, Battery Electric Vehicles, Hybrid Vehicles, CO2 Abatement

Abstract

90% of current primary energy use in India is from fossil fuels, with coal being dominant; the demand for energy is expected to at least double by 2050. In the short to medium term, India is focusing more on ensuring that it has affordable energy to enable economic development and poverty reduction rather than on climate change concerns. For instance, it aims to use its abundant coal reserves for energy production though it also has ambitious plans to increase solar and wind power. Such a stance allows other options such as manufacturing methanol from coal for transport. The alternatives to fossil fuels all start from a low base and face significant economic and environmental challenges to rapid and unlimited growth and will not displace fossil fuels as the main source of energy for decades to come. They also need to be subjected to honest life cycle assessments.
India has expressed an interest in “abatement”, capturing CO2 from fossil fuel combustion; however, the scope for this is extremely limited. India also plans to have 30% of new vehicle sales to be electric vehicles by 2030. Given the difficulties of cost of new charging and road infrastructure, cost and material availability of batteries, replacing current passenger cars with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to that extent will not be possible and in any case, will cause an increase greenhouse gases (GHG) since the electricity generation will not be sufficiently decarbonised. Partial electrification as in self-charging hybrid electric vehicles makes much more sense for passenger cars. Also, a policy focusing on electrifying two and three wheelers, which make up over 70% of new vehicle sales makes much more sense because they have very much smaller batteries and even with the existing electricity grid could reduce GHG. Probably they would not require an extensive charging infrastructure because the batteries could be removed if necessary and charged where electricity is available. It will also help improve urban air quality. There is a danger also that moving to new technologies will increase India’s dependence on China which dominates manufacture of solar panels and batteries and battery material processing. As the number of BEVs increases, hazards from battery fires will also increase and need to be addressed. All technologies relevant to energy and transport need to be sensibly deployed and continuously improved to ensure provision and efficient use of energy.

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Published

15-04-2023

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Articles