This paper considers options for a future Indian power economy in which renewables, wind and solar, could meet 80% of anticipated 2040 power demand supplanting the country’s current reliance on coal. Using a cost optimization model, here we show that renewables could provide a source of power cheaper or at least competitive with what could be supplied using fossil-based alternatives. The ancillary advantage would be a significant reduction in India’s future power sector related emissions of CO₂. Using a model in which prices for wind turbines and solar PV systems are assumed to continue their current decreasing trend, we conclude that an investment in renewables at a level consistent with meeting 80% of projected 2040 power demand could result in a reduction of 85% in emissions of CO₂ relative to what might be expected if the power sector were to continue its current coal dominated trajectory.

本文考虑了未来印度电力经济的选择，其中可再生能源、风能和太阳能可以满足 2040 年预期电力需求的 80%，取代该国目前对煤炭的依赖。使用成本优化模型，我们在这里展示了可再生能源可以提供更便宜的电力来源，或者至少与使用基于化石的替代品供应的电力相比具有竞争力。辅助优势将是印度未来与电力部门相关的 CO ₂排放量的显着减少。使用假设风力涡轮机和太阳能光伏系统的价格继续其当前下降趋势的模型，我们得出的结论是，在满足 2040 年预计电力需求的 80% 的水平上对可再生能源的投资可能导致 85% 的下降CO _{2 的}排放量 相对于如果电力部门要继续其目前以煤炭为主的轨迹可能会出现的情况。