Register today for the next seminar of Energy Systems Engineering Fall 2024 Seminar Series: The Janak Raj Lectures. This seminar is available only online via Zoom.

Presented by:  Nikit Abhyankar, Scientist, Energy Markets & Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.

REGISTER HERE

TIME: 12:00 PM Eastern Time 
LOCATION - ZOOM MEETING link to be sent prior to the seminar date
CONTACT US: inesei@lehigh.edu  

Abstract:   India stands at a critical juncture in its energy journey. As the world’s most populous nation and the fifth-largest economy, India’s energy demand is expected to quadruple in the coming decades due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, and rising incomes. Currently, India is lagging by over $2 trillion in energy infrastructure investment compared to other industrialized nations—an investment that will be crucial in the next 20 to 30 years. With a heavy reliance on fossil fuel imports, India is one of the largest net-importers of energy globally. However, the recent steep declines in clean energy costs present a transformative opportunity. India has the potential to leapfrog into a cleaner, more sustainable energy system by investing in renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen. This talk will explore the technical, economic, and political challenges India faces as it navigates this complex transition— and why this moment represents a pivotal opportunity for the country’s energy future.

Bio: Dr. Nikit Abhyankar is a Scientist in the Energy Markets and Policy Department Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a Senior Scientist at the India Energy and Climate Center of the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on power, transport, and industrial sector decarbonization in the United States and key emerging economies such as India, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. He regularly advises governments, regulators, and utilities in multiple countries on designing clean energy policies and programs. Dr. Abhyankar has published over 80 journal articles and research reports, and his research has been widely covered in the media. He has a Ph.D. in Environment and Resources from Stanford University.