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Powering Down and Energy Justice: Rethinking Demand and Equity

1. The Need for "Powering Down"

  • Beyond Efficiency: The Jevons Paradox warns that efficiency gains can lead to higher overall consumption.
  • Challenge Assumptions: Question the narrative of ever-increasing energy demand.
  • Focus on Sufficiency: Reduce unnecessary consumption, especially in high-usage sectors (e.g., urban appliances, industrial waste).

2. Energy Justice: Key Concerns

  • Access Inequality:
    • Urban Rich: 24/7 power, subsidies, modern appliances.
    • Rural Poor: Power outages, reliance on polluting biomass, high costs.
  • Subsidy Imbalance: Current systems often benefit those who need them least.
  • Environmental Burdens: Marginalized communities bear the costs of pollution and resource extraction.

3. Strategies for Equitable Energy Transition

  • Prioritize the Underserved:
    • Promote clean cooking, efficient lighting, solar microgrids.
    • Design policies that reduce—not reinforce—inequality.
  • Citizen Role:
    • Choose efficient appliances; reduce wasteful consumption.
    • Participate in local energy planning and tariff hearings.
    • Advocate for inclusive, accountable governance.

4. Paradigm Shift: From Supply-Driven to Needs-Based Planning

  • Prayas Primer Insight (Box 10.3):
    • Shift from supply-driven to need-based energy planning.
    • Challenge: Does more electricity always mean more development?
    • Approach: Estimate demand based on decent living standards, not economic growth targets.
  • Key Principle: Manage demand rather than only increasing supply.

5. India’s Clean Energy Transition: Progress and Gaps

  • Targets:
    • 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
    • Current non-fossil installed capacity: 45%
    • Actual electricity from renewables (solar, wind, biomass): 13% (target: 32% by 2030)
  • Challenges:
    • 34.5 GW of renewable projects not commissioned.
    • 10 GW delayed due to power purchase agreement issues.
    • Solar is cheaper than new coal, but institutional barriers persist.
  • Decentralized Renewables:
    • Rooftop solar, PM-KUSUM pumps show promise but need scaling.
  • Sunita Narain’s View: Transition is urgent but uneven; requires focus, adaptability, and equity.

6. Assignment: Local Sustainable Entrepreneurs

  • Objective: Profile a local enterprise in energy/food systems driving sustainability.
  • Examples:
    • Food: Organic farming, local processing, farm-to-market chains, agroecology.
    • Energy: Rooftop solar, microgrids, biogas, electric mobility, clean cooking tech.
  • Submission Guidelines (150–250 words):
    • Who they are, what they do, whom they serve.
    • Problem addressed and solution innovated.
    • Impact, challenges (financial/technical/policy), and support needed.
    • Include a photo/interview/voice note/reference link.

Exam Tip:
Focus on the concepts of energy justice and powering down—understand how equity and demand reduction are central to a sustainable transition. Be prepared to discuss the Jevons Paradox and the shift from supply-driven to needs-based planning. Use data on India’s renewable energy progress (e.g., 13% actual generation from renewables) and challenges (e.g., uncommissioned projects). Always link policies and citizen actions to equitable outcomes. For case-based questions, refer to examples like PM-KUSUM or decentralized renewables.

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