The best of Indian science

In this and the following issue, DOWN TO EARTH presents a review of India's ten best scientific research projects. The selection is based on the …

US embraces nuclear reactors to power spacecrafts

Thirty years after they were abandoned for good, nuclear reactors are making a fatal comeback in the US spacecrafts. In 2003, the US National …

Science cannot be a minion to wealth

A journalist without the pretensions of a scientist -- that's how JOHN MADDOX, editor of Nature for 15 years, would like to see himself. On his …

Newest Biggest Deal

In Kyoto, in 1997, nations of the world agreed the Clean Development Mechanism (cdm) was a competent way to combat climate change. The process …

Beyond Bhopal: incentive for unsafe industries

A judgement by a Bhopal court has brought the worst gas tragedy into spotlight. It has galvanized the media and the government into action. A …

Kudankulam meltdown

The spectre of Fukushima continues to haunt the world, forcing governments in most parts of the globe to rethink their plans to tap this …

Energy transition is now a must

Marie-Hélène Aubert, adviser to the French president for international negotiations on climate and environment, was recently in New …

Two technologies that shape our future

Battery and meters are two widely used technologies, yet no one stops to think how they work. They determine our future. They dictate how we …

Chhattisgarh's Industrial Jungle

Chhattisgarh is set to become the largest producer of thermal power, cement and sponge iron. The push is on to install 77 per cent of India's …

‘Separate power feeders can greatly improve rural electrification’

Over 65 years after Independence, nearly half of the 800 million people living in rural India are yet to get access to electricity. A major …

Sunshine sector loses sheen

About 40 kilometres from Delhi, in the bustling real estate market of Noida-Greater Noida, lies the biggest irony that the renewable energy …

Need or greed?

The Union Ministry of Finance has recently alleged that green clearances are holding up the country’s infrastructure development and growth.…

Desperate for gas

Gas is the cleanest of fossil fuels and also more efficient and cheaper to use. Yet, in India, there has been no policy focus on this fuel, …

The panchayat outrage

It was a vote for self-governance, not self-determination. No panchayat election in the country ever created as much hype as that of Jammu and …

Let solar shine

Census 2011 throws light on the darkness across India. Of the 246 million households, 67 per cent get electricity from the grid, while 31 per …

The vagaries of power

Differential metering of peak- and low-load consumption might jolt the power sector out of the red

Power crisis unlikely to improve till electricity demand drops in Punjab

Interstate transmission line and going renewable could solve Punjab power crisis, say experts

'Govt must learn from its failure before launching UDAY 2'

Experts suggest the government must tread carefully after the failure of its flagship scheme meant for financial turnaround of power …

Government intends to make power generators, distributors more accountable

Draft Electricity Amendment Act, 2018 proposes a slew of measures to bring transparency in power generation market and penalise faulty distributors

Power at full capacity

The Power Finance Corp has recently initiated a programme to enhance energy efficiency by installing capacitors to harness the reactive load in …

Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021: How it can play out

The Bill is a rehashed version of one the central government has been trying to pass in Parliament since 2014  

Power for all—can it be achieved?

Round-the-clock assured power supply programme to kick off with Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan; finances and logistics pose a huge challenge

Why we need better policy on reusing discontinued power plant site

Once a closure decision of power station is made, the land remains unutilised for six to 10 years

Uttar Pradesh is falling short of solar energy targets; here’s why

The state has the highest electricity demand, but target of 22,000 MW solar power by 2026-27 unrealistic at current pace

The price of Power

The powerful monopoly caucus that rules electricity supply industry a heavy-handed ragulatory -structure to protect the consumer interest