India’s fully synchronised national power grid and ongoing reforms in the wholesale markets have created a perfect foundation for beneficial power trade across Indian states, especially for renewable energy like solar and wind-based power. As renewable energy becomes progressively cheaper, renewable-rich states are in the perfect position to trade with low rene...

The electric distribution sector in India is struggling financially. This is not a new problem, and its primary causes are well understood. The distribution utilities (discoms) have long faced challenges in revenue collection and shortfalls stemming from important cross-subsidies of residential and agricultural customers. There is, as a consequence, an over-depen...

​Low-cost renewable energy can help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon power system. These same resources offer the opportunity to optimize supply-side costs and substantially bring down a distribution utility's (discom) aggregate expenses. Reduced expenses can lead to the lowering of retail tariffs and an increase in the discom's cost-competitiveness...

At the one-day workshop on power system transformation at Maharashtra state-level, which was organized by IEA, NITI Aayog and Prayas, Rasika Athawale spoke of the role of demand flexibility for higher integration of VRE into the state grid. She presented results from E3 India model to demonstrate benefits of a higher RE share to the state’s macroeconomy. She co...

​Consumer Action Group organized a two-day conference in Chennai on consumer engagement in electricity sector. Rasika made a presentation highlighting the benefits of wholesale power markets and retail markets to consumers. Markets enable large-scale integration of low-cost renewable energy generation, while providing signals for new investments and consumption...

At the one-day event on energy transition for the state of Tamil Nadu, Rasika spoke of the need for looking beyond the state utility and prioritizing actions for the entire state. She reasoned that given Tamil Nadu is already a leader in clean energy, it is time for the state to explore all possible ways to champion national & state policies with a 3M approac...

At an energy finance conference hosted by the Centre for Financial Accountability, Rasika Athawale highlighted cost optimization as a driver for exploring the role of load flexibility. Instead of signing more long-term power purchase agreements with conventional plants, distribution companies can unlock value by deploying demand-side measures....

India is in a state of “air crisis” unprecedented in the history of the country. Thermal power plants, which are a major source of particulate matter and SOX and NOX emissions, have traditionally been monitored for air pollution via a command and control approach. However recent intervention by the Supreme Court of India on matters related to non-compliance ...

In a workshop co-hosted by the Centre for Policy Research, Asar Social Impact Advisors and RAP, Rasika Athawale and Ranjit Bharvirkar presented an introduction to market-based options for electricity sector emissions control. They considered the strengths and weaknesses of an emissions trading system, an emissions portfolio obligation and an emissions reduction ...

The Indian electricity sector is undergoing a rapid transition as the share of renewable energy (especially solar and wind) grows while the addition of conventional technology (especially coal and natural gas) diminishes. Stakeholders who benefited in India’s electricity growth story of the last two decades, may find themselves on losing ground as the rules of ...