Energy, Development, and Sustainability: The Indian Context
Energy and Development
1. Why Energy Matters
Definition: Energy is the ability to do work, but it represents much more: power, progress, and inequality.
Role in Development: Essential for lighting homes, powering schools/hospitals, enabling industries, and improving quality of life.
Historical Shift: Civilizations evolved with energy sources:
Pre-industrial: Wood & animal power
Industrial Revolution: Coal
20th Century: Oil
Current Challenge: Fossil fuels dominate (80% of global energy) but bring high environmental costs (climate change, pollution, depletion).
2. Energy and Human Development
Correlation: Higher energy use per capita generally correlates with higher Human Development Index (HDI) scores.
India’s Position: At a critical point where small increases in energy access can significantly improve well-being.
Paradox: Sri Lanka and Philippines have lower per capita energy use but higher HDI than India → showing that equitable distribution and efficiency matter as much as total consumption.
3. The Solar Paradox
Earth receives 120,000 terawatts of solar energy daily.
Human society consumes only ~15 terawatts.
Theoretical Potential: A tiny fraction of solar energy could meet global needs.
Reality: Heavy reliance on finite fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) due to infrastructural and economic inertia.
4. Energy Inequality in India (Analogies & Data)
a. The “India of 1000” Analogy (Prayas)
485 women, 515 men
690 live in villages
270 illiterate, 200 undernourished
50% houses have mud floors; <50% have drinking water access
650 have toilets
800 have LPG connections (many still use firewood)
950 have electricity connections
Income Inequality: Richest 100 earn half of total income; poorest 500 earn one-sixth.
b. Energy Tree Analogy (1000 fruits = India’s total energy)
340 fruits: Firewood/dung used by poor households
310 fruits: Industry
150 fruits: Electricity (shared by 950 million people)
c. Asset Ownership (CEW Study, 2020)
Asset
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Fan
Some
All
Television
6%
Widespread
Two-wheeler
Rare
Common
Fridge/Washing Machine
Almost none
Common
5. Environmental and Social Costs
76% of India’s GHG emissions come from the power sector (CSE, 2024).
Air Pollution: Health costs due to fossil fuel combustion.
Inequity: Rural populations, women, and poor bear the brunt of energy poverty.
Global Unsustainability: If everyone consumed like the average American → we would need 2.5 Earths.
6. Key Concepts and Terminology
Energy Sources: Origin of energy (coal, sun, wind).
Energy Carriers: Mediums that deliver energy (electricity, hydrogen).
Demand-Side Planning: Managing consumption through efficiency, frugality, and equitable distribution.
Energy Justice: Ensuring fair access to clean, affordable energy for all.
7. Way Forward: Principles for Sustainable Energy Transition
Expand Access while reducing emissions.
Promote Renewables: Solar, wind, and other clean sources.
Ensure Equity: Prioritize energy access for marginalized communities.
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