Publications
Distributed solar photovoltaics landscape in Uttar Pradesh, India: Lessons for transition to decentralised rural electrification.
Research Paper
| August 1, 2019
The energy poverty cycle continues to pose a major challenge for governments in emerging economies. Electrification has typically been delivered through centralised generation and distribution that has not always afforded equitable or efficient access. Decentralised solar technologies are fast approaching financial parity and have certain environmental advantages over grid extension, especially in rural and remote societies. We explore the emergence of decentralised energy systems in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populated state with notable energy access and equity challenges.
Critical policy interventions to fast forward micro irrigation in India
Policy brief
| August 1, 2019
The increasing demand of water in agriculture, along with inefficient methods of irrigation, has aggravated the problems of water scarcity in India. There is a huge potential for micro irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler) to improve water efficiency in agriculture.
Reversing land degradation in India
Article
| July 30, 2019
Nearly one-third of area in India faces the threat of land degradation. India strives to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030.
Residents of Gujarat can install rooftop solar power plants with I-SMART
Article
| July 25, 2019
Gujarat announces new solar rooftop subsidy for its residential consumers
Marginalisation of Off-grid Energy Sector in Sri Lanka: What Lessons could be learnt?
Research Paper
| July 23, 2019
Renewable energy-based off-grid projects have played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s universal electrification effort. The paper, in this context, unravels two crucial and quite interrelated aspects of decentralised off-grid electrification in the country: a) it critically analyses the off-grid electricity sector development and assesses its contribution to the universal electrification in the country and; b) it examines the current set of challenges associated with the off-grid electrification in the larger context of massive grid expansion.
Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourselves to a spirulina chocolate bar
Article
| July 16, 2019
When it comes to chocolate, resisting temptation is futileChocolate is the ultimate comfort food and the one food source that can make most people on diet succumb to temptation and cheat on their dietary regime. Chocolate, a guilty pleasure for many, also has several therapeutic attributes.
Way forward from Bonn 2019
Article
| July 5, 2019
In the midst of increasing appeals for bold climate action across the globe by students and civil society, and a resounding call from the scientific community to urgently address the devastating impacts of climate change, the 2019 Bonn Climate Change Conference marked an intermediate stage in the build up to implementation of the Paris Agreement.
A 'green division' in Delhi to reduce residents' carbon footprint
Article
| July 2, 2019
A Model Green Division project by a discom in East Delhi's Mayur Vihar could reduce 2100 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
हरित एजेन्डा: भारत में वायु को स्वच्छ करना
Article
| July 2, 2019
वायु प्रदूषण भारत के लिए एक गंभीर मुद्दा है। इस समस्या को सही से समझने और हल के लिए वायु गुणवत्ता निगरानी का कार्य उन शहरों में भी किया जाना चाहिए जहाँ अभी तक यह नहीं हुआ है।
हरित एजेन्डा: भारत की पानी की स्थिति में सुधार करना
Article
| July 2, 2019
हम एक ऐसे भविष्य की तरफ बढ़ रहे हैं जहाँ पानी की समस्या गंभीर रूप ले लेगी। पानी की गुणवत्ता में गिरावट, जल स्तर में कमी, भूजल का अधिक दोहन गंभीर भविष्य की और इशारा कर रहे हैं। बहुत ज़रूरी है कि हम अपने जल संसाधनों की सुरक्षा और प्रबंधन करें ताकि सभी लोगों को पानी मिल सके।