OBJECTIVES

This project aims on the promotion of renewable forms of energy in China and India by quantifying their potential beneficial role in air pollution abatement policies. This should be achieved by an integrated assessment of the costs and the environmental impacts of renewable forms of energy, particularly in comparison with other fossil fuels.

Major aspects of the project are:

• An assessment of the potential for renewables by a detailed bottom-up analysis of the energy demand, taking into account the economic heterogeneity within countries and economic sectors, as well as the costs of different energy systems.
• An analysis of the costs of emission control through use of renewable fuels. These will be compared to costs of individual control technologies for fossil fuels, as well as of alternative strategies to avoid acidification problems in Asia.
• Development of a policy analysis tool for exploring cost-effective strategies for air pollution abatement, in particular focusing at the role of renewable energy.
• Creating expert capacity in China and India to assess the potential role of renewable energy sources in air pollution abatement strategies.

ACTIVITIES

The project consists of the following work packages:

1. The first work package includes a bottom-up analysis of the potential demand for renewable sources of energy in China and India. The potential for renewable forms of energy in China and India is analyzed for the period 1990 - 2020. Traditional as well as non-traditional renewables are included: water, solar energy, wind energy, and biomass. Current trends as well as potential maximum for renewables is considered.
2. The second work package focuses on evaluation of renewables in air pollution abatement. Costs of emission control through renewable fuels will be analyzed and compared to costs of other control options as available in RAINS ASIA. A policy analysis tool is developed for exploring cost-effective strategies for air pollution abatement.
3. Third, workshops and training will be organized during which participants will be trained how to use the acidification model RAINS ASIA. In addition, policy recommendations will be formulated with respect to use of renewables in China and India.

This project will result in scenarios for use of renewables in China and India, including a business-as-usual scenario and a policy scenario in which use of renewables is encouraged. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of strategies for air pollution abatement will be explored. The results of the study will be used as input to one of the workshops, leading to policy recommendations with respect to use of renewables.