SFC Perspectives Paper Rethinking the configuration of technology, politics and institutions to build a 21st century energy system
India must build a 21st-century energy system while simultaneously grappling with 20th-century problems of energy access, leakages, and financially unviable electricity distribution companies. While a cleaner, greener, and job-creating energy future is possible, the path to it will be disruptive and will require a reconfiguration of current technological, political, and institutional systems.
Our work focuses on explaining the entrenched patterns in the Indian energy sector, identifying key bottlenecks to a clean energy transition, and finding solutions to ease its challenges. We collaborate with governments and the private sector to develop frameworks and plans for states to lead and manage the transition, ensure the viability of discoms and coal-dependent regions, and promote the productive use of electricity in rural communities for their socioeconomic development.
Our publications
This also includes publications by SFC team members in their past capacities.
SFC Perspectives on Adaptation and Resilience, Climate Policy, Energy Transitions, and Environmental Governance and Policy
SFC
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Enabling the Energy Transition: Technology, politics & institutions in India’s energy system
Ashwini K Swain, Sarada Prasanna Das, Suravee Nayak, Catherine Ayallore and Navroz K Dubash
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Uneven and Combined Development and the Politics of Labour in an Eastern Indian Coalfield: Shifts and Changes from Late Colon…
Suravee Nayak
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Opinions
Energy Transitions
Seeing India’s energy transition through its States
Ashwini K Swain, Ann Josey et al.
7 June 2023
States are critical actors in India’s energy transition as there is a multi-tier governance of energy production and usage.
Journal articles
Energy Transitions
Intergenerational Labour and Just Transition in Coalfields
Suravee Nayak
1 June 2023
In coal mining districts, the nature of labour dependence on working coal may change over time, but generations will continue to rely on the industry for their livelihoods. This leaves coal communities extremely vulnerable to an energy transition.
Journal articles
Energy Transitions
Solar Rooftop Systems and the Urban Transition: Shall the Twain Ever Meet? Interrogations from Rewari, India
Marie-Hélène Zérah and Sarada Prasanna Das
24 February 2023
This study examines Solar Rooftop Systems (SRS) on Delhi’s outskirts. It reveals how current policies miss the mark by not emphasizing the need for a more integrated approach to urban energy planning that transcends the rural-urban divide.
Opinions
Energy Transitions
India’s just energy transition is more than a coal story
Easwaran J Narassimhan, Ashwini K Swain et al.
6 February 2023
India’s G-20 presidency is an opportunity for New Delhi to negotiate a deal for itself while also shaping international cooperation on just energy transitions.
Journal articles
Energy Transitions
Coal extraction, dispossession and the ‘classes of labour’ in coalfields of eastern India
Suravee Nayak
8 December 2022
This paper delves into the coalfields of eastern India, highlighting the emergence of multiple, fragmented and hierarchical ‘classes of labour’ in the ‘new public sector’ coal mines of India.
Opinions
Energy Transitions
Why India’s Framework to Bank Renewable Energy Needs To Be Stronger
Catherine Ayallore
22 August 2022
A technological solution to renewable energy source’s intermittency is the physical storage of energy. Thus, storage technologies are critical to a transition to RE heavy energy systems.
Opinions
Energy Transitions
Band-Aid Solutions Won’t Staunch India’s Power Crisis
Ashwini K Swain and Rohit Chandra
31 May 2022
Current short-term fixes for India’s power crisis neither address rising uncertainty in the electricity system nor are aligned to a transition towards a 21st century energy system.
Opinions
Energy Transitions
Three interlinking factors that explain the coal crisis
Ashwini K Swain
5 May 2022
The current crisis can be explained by a demand surge, supply disruptions and dysfunctional cash flow.
Opinions
Energy Transitions
Policy packages could transform India’s approach to the climate crisis
Parth Bhatia and Navroz K Dubash
29 April 2022
For a country like India, a policy package approach could help unlock the social acceptability of transformative action.
