Energy Needs, Options and Environmental Consequences

The author discusses the challenges in meeting India’s energy needs, and specifically in supplying adequate, diversified sources of energy of desired quality over a horizon of 25 years in a sustainable manner and at internationally competitive costs. The author models several scenarios for energy supply options and concludes that coal will remain the dominant fuel in India, and that conservation through improved energy efficiency and effective management of demand is the next most important way to meet growth requirements. He also stresses the importance of developing new energy technologies.