This document outlines one component of India’s INDC submission to the UNFCCC focussing on the renewable energy contribution to its future electricity mix. So far, the
Government of India has articulated solar targets for renewable energy, which therefore deserves careful analysis.

The Indian power sector is remarkably characterised as one where electricity availability has always lagged behind demand.

India has witnessed a considerable increase in domestic consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) over the years and the phenomenal rise in the number of LPG connections in the country is testimony to it. However, only 28.5% of households reported LPG as their primary fuel for cooking, during Census 2010-11.

Assigning a monetary value for air quality reduction and associated health outcomes of electricity generation is both difficult and essential; it is difficult because methods are cumbersome, data intensive and costly, however dollar value of cost of air pollution is imperative for formulating pollution control policy.

Energy is important both for economic development, but it also plays a major role in improving conditions at the household level. The notion of an energy poverty line is well accepted around the world. There is a large body of literature on how to measure income poverty and the reliability of alternate measures.

Minerals are indispensable in modern industrial activities; infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, as indeed all sectors of economy. However, non-fuel materials (minerals and metals) have so far not received the same attention as have oil and natural gas.

This report focuses on the wind and solar sectors in India. It reviews Indian policies for raising the share of renewables in the energy mix within the context of multiple social, economic and technological objectives.

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