Decarbonizing the power sector: Towards Low carbon pathways

As the world’s energy sector moves away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources, industrial companies are challenged with addressing this transition in transformative ways. To change course, the world must act quickly to decarbonize every aspect of modern life, from transportation to power. This requires a global effort built on cooperation and coordination from every major institution, government, and company to face and meet the challenge.

As of December 2020, 127 countries have either set net zero emissions targets or declared intentions to do so, representing cumulatively, around 63% of global emissions. The recent wave of net zero targets has brought global emissions trajectories closer to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.

Globally countries are taking net zero pledges which is resulting in interim targets and policy revisions with wide-reaching impacts, including risks and opportunities for businesses, as countries chart courses towards meeting their net zero targets.

More Power Less Emissions

Over the last few years, decarbonization pathways have emerged for important sectors such as power. These pathways have been driven by technological breakthroughs and cost reduction, whereas, in practice, pathways for decarbonization in power sector have proven to be particularly challenging due to many reasons. The sector considers the “trilemma” facing every country when it comes to the future of energy: simultaneously balancing affordability, reliability, and sustainability.

Renewables and natural gas will help drive towards a cleaner energy future. However, the rapid integration of renewable power into grid infrastructure is leading to challenges around grid instability. Early adopters of renewables are realizing the need to strengthen grids with additional technologies, to achieve critically required levels of flexibility, scalability, dependability, and to maintain grid inertia, the absence of which can result in instability, power quality issues, and blackouts.

Gas Can Accelerate Renewable Energy Shift

Targeting net-zero emission by 2070 and reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity and fulfilling 50 per cent of energy requirement from renewable energy by 2030 would require development of robust infrastructure.

The world is in a race to reach net-zero emissions to counter global warming and reverse climate change. Focusing largely on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries who have  increased their focus on taking actions to address climate change concerns it can be seen that there is an urgent need to further accelerate decarbonization efforts, especially in the region’s power sector, by leveraging its tremendous renewables potential together with its abundant natural gas reserves, while transitioning away from liquid fuels. Gas power has emerged as a solution offering the lowest carbon emissions per megawatt hour of power generated among all fossil fuels.

Gas can be a force multiplier for renewables, helping to provide cost-effective, flexible, reliable power with lower emissions than any other fossil fuel-based generation today, while progressing towards carbon neutral generation through the decarbonization of fuels and facilities in the future. Some examples are gas turbine technology-based power generation and green hydrogen.

Decarbonizing the power sector is important to halt climate change. But what exactly is behind it? And what are we doing about it?

Key Discussion Points
  • What technical developments are making decarbonization more feasible?
  • Decarbonizing the power sector
  • Recommendations for energy sector companies to decarbonize
  • Zero-carbon power generation
  • Gas based power generation
  • Accelerating the energy transition with a combination of renewables and gas power

The upcoming webinar “Decarbonizing the power sector: Towards Low carbon pathways!” will feature a panel of renowned business leaders from different sectors to explore how companies can identify and build the action plan for their business with low carbon sources – gas as priority action.

Speakers

Mr. S.K. Mishra
Director
Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI)

R. Lakshmanan
Executive Director
REC Limited

Deepesh Nanda
CEO, Gas Power
GE South Asia as

Namrata Rana
Director-Strategy and Brand,
Futurescape

Dr. Binu Parthan
Head, Country Engagement and Partnerships (CEP) Division
IRENA

Agenda

15:30 – 15:35 PM Opening Remarks
15:40 – 16:40 PM Key Discussion Points

  • Energy transition and decarbonisation landscape for India Inc.
  • Gas based power generation
  • Decarbonizing the power sector
  • How can value chain partnerships be leveraged to stimulate innovation, collaboration and investment in decarbonization?
  • Accelerating the energy transition with a combination of renewables and gas power

Speakers

Deepesh Nanda, CEO, Gas Power, GE South Asia as
16.45 – 16:50 PM Closing Address by ET Edge

Mr. S.K. Mishra, Director. Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI)

Mr. S.K. Mishra is having 37 years’ experience of power sector.

Mr. S.K. Mishra had joined as Director (Power System) in Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) in February, 2018.  He is looking onshore/offshore wind, Floating Solar, Solar-Wind Storage Hybrid, Battery Energy Storage System, Business Development and working closely with Central Transmission Unit / Central Electricity Authority for ensuring the evacuation system of renewable systems across the country.

Prior to that Mr. S. K. Mishra held the position of Executive Director (QA&I and CMD Coordination Cell), working with Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., a Govt. of India Navratna Enterprise. In this assignment, he was responsible for ensuring the development of the Industry on a whole through Quality control and vendor development programs. He was entrusted with responsibility as head of CMD Coordination Cell formed with a purpose to strategically guide POWERGRID through process innovations, inter-departmental coordination and early spotting & resolution of issues. In view of high quality standards achieved during his tenure as Quality head, POWERGRID was conferred national Quality Award for year 2012-13 by Bureau of Indian Standard under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

In his long career spanning over three decades, he has had several positions of leadership involving Planning, Construction, Execution and Operation & Maintenance of transmission system. During the period 2002 to 2010, he was posted in the Western Region of POWERGRID. He is credited with the implementation of India’s first 765kV S/s and transmission line in Western Region. He is also credited with the Implementation and commissioning of Substation Automation System based on IEC 61850 first time in the country.

Mr. S.K. Mishra has also published large no. of papers in International and National Forum and received best paper award during ELECRAMA 2010.

Mr. S. K. Mishra started his career as an Executive Trainee in NTPC transmission division in 1985 after completing his graduation in Electrical Engineering from NIT, Bhopal.  He is also a certified Energy Auditor.

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R. Lakshmanan, Executive Director, REC Limited

Shri R. Lakshmanan is an Indian Administrative Service Officer of 2004 batch from Bihar cadre. He has done B.Com from Annamalai University. He is also a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He is currently holding the position of Executive Director in REC Limited since February 2019 and is looking after financing of state owned power utilities, Stressed Asset Management, and heading the implementation of Revamped Distribution Sector scheme with an outlay of Rs. 3,03,758 Crores seeks to improve the reliability and quality of Power supply, operational efficiencies and financial sustainability of Power sector. He is also Chief Executive Officer of REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited, subsidiary of REC. Prior to joining REC Limited, he has served for 14 years in the Government of Bihar and held various important positions including Managing Director of Discom, Transco & Genco, District Magistrate of Darbhanga & Saharsa districts, ACEO, Rural Road Development Agency and Additional Chief Electoral Officer.
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Deepesh Nanda, CEO, Gas Power ,GE South Asia as

Deepesh Nanda is the Chief Executive Officer for GE Gas Power in South Asia, responsible for GE’s business in countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Nepal. Deepesh has been driving all the strategic initiatives to providing highly efficient, reliable, and cleaner powering solutions to the areas that need them the most. At the Asia level, Deepesh Nanda is the President & Chief Executive Officer for GE’s Aeroderivative Gas Turbine business segment in Asia. He is responsible for driving growth in both the Aero new units and services portfolio across more than 22 countries in the region including key markets like China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India and Bangladesh. The Aero team, as part of a separate P&L stream within GE Gas Power, works closely with GE Research, FieldCore, Aviation, Heavyduty Gas Turbine and Services to drive seamless Aero experience for the GE customers in Asia. With the above roles, Deepesh plays a significant role in developing growth strategies and finding solutions to bring electricity to the far-flung geographies of Asia. His experience in building infrastructure projects impacts everyday lives of people and helps in the next phase of energy transformation for the region. Deepesh holds a bachelor’s degree, with distinction, in Mechanical & Production Engineering from Annamalai University, Chidambaram, India, and an M.B.A from the OUBS, Milton Keynes, UK.
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Dr. Binu Parthan, Head, Country Engagement and Partnerships (CEP) Division, IRENA

Dr. Binu Parthan is the Head of Regions and responsible for country engagement within the Country Engagement and Partnerships (CEP) Division at IRENA. Prior to IRENA, he was a regional adviser at Green Climate Fund (GCF), Deputy Director General at the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) and  Executive Director of IT Power India. His energy transition, climate change and renewable energy experience covers 20 developing countries including countries in Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America.  Parthan holds a Doctorate in low-carbon Energy from the Technical University of Graz and Master degrees in Renewable Energy from University of Oldenburg and Industrial-Mechanical engineering from National Institute of Technology Calicut.
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