Energy crossroads and prioritization of energy choices: the Case of India

摘要

For countries like India, energy policy challenge lies in planning for a national energy portfolio which ensures uninterrupted supply of affordable electricity while reducing carbon emissions with least socio-economic impediments like land acquisition. This study illustrates prioritization of seven major energy alternatives for power generation on the basis of their direct and dynamic land requirement, generation cost, carbon emission and reliability of generation. Detailed data of typical power plants in India are used, and the energy sources are then ranked using the MCDM TOPSIS technique in five different scenarios of policy focus. Results indicate that (i) India needs to focus more on gas-based generation to phase out coal and gradually transition to a cleaner energy path and (ii) among renewables, solar is a clearer choice over wind in terms of both cost and land requirement per tonne of carbon abatement.