Global perspectives on accelerating the clean energy future and energy independence

Decarbonizing India and Africa Workshop Series

Plummeting costs for wind and solar energy have dramatically changed the prospects for rapid, cost-effective expansion of renewable energy around the world. At the same time, battery energy storage has become a viable option for cost effectively integrating high levels of wind and solar generation into electricity grids. Most existing studies, however, examine 2050 as the year that deep decarbonization of electric power systems can be achieved—a timeline that would also hinder decarbonization of the buildings, industrial, and transportation sectors. This talk will discuss technically feasible, economically desirable, and politically viable pathways for 80-90% decarbonization of the power sector in half the time than previously thought possible with examples from multiple countries including the U.S., China, India, and Japan.

About the Speaker

Dr. Nikit Abhyankar is a Scientist in the Electricity Markets and Policy Department Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a Senior Scientist at the Center for Environmental Public Policy of the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on power and transport sector decarbonization in the United States and key emerging economies such as India, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam. He regularly advises national / state governments, regulators, and utilities in multiple countries on designing clean energy policies and programs. Nikit has published over 50 journal articles, research reports, and conference papers, and his research has been widely covered in the media. Nikit has a Ph.D. in Environment and Resources from Stanford University.