Barriers to Adoption of Clean and Efficient Technologies in the Indian Power Sector: An Analysis Using Ahp

Abstract

Coal accounts for more than 70 % of total power generation in India. As India aspires to achieve higher economic growth, demand for electricity would rise significantly. A significant proportion of the future supply would continue to be produced using fossil fuels primarily domestic coal. Most of the fossil fuel technologies in place in the Indian power sector have hitherto paid less attention to the global environmental concerns except those emanating from local regulations and promotion of renewable energies to some extent. In a study conducted under the AARPEEC Project Phase II, three most promising clean and energy efficient technologies were identified for adoption in the Indian power sector. These were - Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Coal technology (IGCC), Pulverised Fluidised Bed Combustion (PFBC) and Biomass Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle technology (BIGCC). Availability of technical know how is not expected to translate into adoption of such technologies in the Indian power sector. With the emerging competition in the Indian power sector, cost of power produced would drive home the fact that expensive clean technologies may not make easy inroads in a significant way. A survey of key stakeholders in the Indian power sector was conducted. The responses were further analysed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology so as to rank the barriers to adoption of identified technologies. Policies and measures to remove the barriers were also identified and analysed.