Essays on modeling energy future of India : natural gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- This thesis explores three topics that are central to a low-carbon development path for India, namely, the Indian natural gas market, grid integration of renewable energy, and energy efficiency programs. In the first part of the thesis, the effect of price liberalization on the natural gas market is analyzed by developing a mixed complementarity model. Gas prices in the liberalized market are found to be significantly higher than the government regulated prices under the status quo. However, the liberalized market is found to overcome the prevailing gas shortages in the country and improve total welfare. Irrespective of the gas pricing policy, imported liquefied natural gas is found to be a significant part of the supply mix in the future. Inadequate investments in gas pipelines can lead to network congestion and price spikes. Gas pipeline infrastructure would, therefore, be the key to developing an efficient gas market. Finally, the present formula for sharing profits of domestic gas producers with the government is found to incentivize inefficient investments in gas exploration and production. The second part of the thesis tests the feasibility of integrating large scale renewable energy projects into the electricity grid using the state of Delhi as a case study. Wind resources from the state of Tamilnadu were found to have a very high seasonal and diurnal correlation with electricity demand in Delhi. Solar energy from the state of Rajasthan is found to have a complementary seasonal profile to that of wind power from Tamilnadu. Simulation of the optimal grid dispatch shows that integration of wind and solar power is feasible at modest incremental costs. However, regional coordination for planning transmission investments is a must. The third part of the thesis analyzes the effect on utility finances and consumer tariffs of implementing utility-funded demand-side energy efficiency (EE) programs using the state of Delhi as a case study. The impacts are examined by developing scenarios for (a) incentive mechanisms for mitigating the financial risk of utilities, (b) the share of utility funding in total program costs, (c) the sale of conserved electricity into the spot market and (d) the level of power shortages utilities are facing. Although the average consumer tariff would increase only modestly, consumers participating in EE programs would benefit from a reduction in their electricity consumption. While utility incentive mechanisms can mitigate the utilities' risk of losing long-run returns, they cannot address the risk of a consistently negative cash flow. In case of power shortages, the cash flow risk is significantly amplified. It is found to be very sensitive to marginal tariffs of consumers facing power shortages.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Form | electronic; electronic resource; remote |
| Extent | 1 online resource. |
| Publication date | 2012 |
| Issuance | monographic |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Associated with | Abhyankar, Nikit Ajit |
|---|---|
| Associated with | Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (Stanford University) |
| Primary advisor | Goulder, Lawrence H. (Lawrence Herbert) |
| Primary advisor | Weyant, John P. (John Peter) |
| Thesis advisor | Goulder, Lawrence H. (Lawrence Herbert) |
| Thesis advisor | Weyant, John P. (John Peter) |
| Thesis advisor | Sathaye, Jayant A |
| Advisor | Sathaye, Jayant A |
Subjects
| Genre | Theses |
|---|
Bibliographic information
| Statement of responsibility | Nikit Abhyankar. |
|---|---|
| Note | Submitted to Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources. |
| Thesis | Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2012. |
| Location | electronic resource |
Access conditions
- Copyright
- © 2012 by Nikit Ajit Abhyankar
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).
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