Shifting gears for freight electrification
In India, emissions from one truck are equivalent to those from 25 cabs. With the expected increase in economic activity and consumerism, the share of trucks in transportation emissions is bound to increase. Thus, freight decarbonisation is crucial to meet India’s net-zero and energy independence targets.
Towards Net Zero 2070 Through Sustainable Battery Storage Adoption in India
India's commitment to the EV30@30 initiative that targets at least30% of vehicle sales to be electric by 2030 translates into adding24 million two-wheelers, 2.9 million three-wheelers, and 5.4 million four-wheelers to its EV fleet by 2035. To meet this demand and reduce its reliance on global EV-component markets, India requires around 3,400-4,100 GWh of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by2035, estimates the International Council on Clean Transportation.
The Case for Action on Black Carbon
CSTEP and Clean Air Fund launched The Case for Action on Black Carbon, a policy brief highlighting the importance of reducing black carbon emissions across the globe, during a side event at COP28, Dubai. A panel discussion on why action on black carbon emissions is crucial for a sustainable future preceded the launch of the brief.
Read the policy brief here.
The eARTh Climate Fellowship
As part of the first edition of the eARTh Climate Fellowship, four fellows were selected and taken through a series of workshops educating them on the science of climate change and helping them present their ideas through various art forms such as visual art and storytelling.
Application of an Ultra-Low-Cost Passive Sampler for Light-Absorbing Carbon in Mongolia
Low-cost, long-term measures of air pollution concentrations are often needed for epidemiological studies and policy analyses of household air pollution. The Washington passive sampler (WPS), an ultra-low-cost method for measuring the long-term average levels of light-absorbing carbon (LAC) air pollution, uses digital images to measure the changes in the reflectance of a passively exposed paper filter. A prior publication on WPS reported high precision and reproducibility.
The advantages of Behind-the-Meter Energy Storage with rooftop photovoltaics
In early September, India's peak daytime electricity demand stood at 241 GW, a record high. The solar market in India plays a crucial role in meeting this ever-increasing demand, especially the rooftop photovoltaic sector which has enormous untapped potential. The Government of India aims to have 40 GW of rooftop photovoltaics (RTPV) installed capacity by March 2026.
Policy Matters [July-September 2023]
Read our quarterly newsletter featuring CSTEP commentary, publications, events, and other developments
Viewing India’s Net-Zero Ambition Through the Lens of Polysilicon
As India dons the role of a solar superpower, a crucial hurdle in the country’s journey to self-reliance in this sector is the availability of the key raw material—polysilicon. It is a semiconductor that helps convert photons to electricity, thereby forming the brick of solar cells. The production of polysilicon—an energy-intensive material—requires copious amounts of high-quality silicon. While silicon is abundantly found in India and the rest of the world, competition for the mineral is extremely high.
Long-term trend of PM2.5 over five Indian megacities using a new statistical approach
PM2.5 is one of the major contributors to air pollution in India, resulting in poor air quality and human health issues. The current study explores the applicability of TTAinterfaceTrendAnalysis (an ‘R’ language-based Graphical User Interface package) in estimating the annual and month-wise trends in PM2.5 over five Indian megacities (New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai). The package offers a one-stop solution for various statistical analyses such as data imputation, outlier detection, trend analysis, data smoothing, diagnostic tests, etc.
The International Global Atmospheric Chemistry project comments on the revised WHO air quality guidelines
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines were revised for six key air pollutants. The new guideline levels for PM2.5 and O3 may be unattainable for many countries due to natural sources and background levels. Reductions in NO2 may increase O3 due to atmospheric chemistry. Regional-specific scientific expertise is necessary to guide local air quality management towards more appropriate WHO interim targets and controls on modifiable factors especially considering atmospheric chemistry.