Title: The impacts of technological learning on the optimum technology mix: simulations for the Indian power sector

Authors: Jyotirmay Mathur, Narendra Kumar Bansal, Hermann-Joseh Wagner

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Jaipur 302 017, India. ' Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India. ' Institute of Energy Systems and Energy Economics, Building IB, 4th floor, Universitat Strasse 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany

Abstract: For the investigation of the optimum technology mix of any country, which is clearly an issue of dynamic nature, technological learning and economies of scale play a significant role. Hence, in this paper|s long term planning exercise for the Indian power sector (2000-2025), our simulation analysis specifically includes the impacts of technological learning on the optimal inter-temporal choice of power generation technologies. Based on dynamic linear programming methods and MARKAL, a software tool for power generation capacity planning, the most significant result of our analysis is that among various renewable energy technologies, technological learning will favour wind and small hydropower generation, while pressurised fluidised bed combustion-based coal power plants appear to be the favourite conventional fossil fuel-based technology in India.

Keywords: energy planning; technological learning; India; technology mix; economies of scale; simulation; power generation; capacity planning; renewable energy; wind power; wind energy; small hydropower; fossil fuels; coal; fluidised bed; combustion; power plants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2004.005156

International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy, 2004 Vol.2 No.3, pp.240 - 249

Published online: 07 Sep 2004 *

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