Inequality in air pollution mortality from power generation in India

Bibliographic Data

ID15548856
AuthorsShayak Sengupta (0000-0002-3329-2973, corresponding author), Sumil K Thakrar (0000-0003-2205-3333, University of Minnesota), Kirat Singh (0000-0002-5643-7362, Stanford University), Rahul Tongia (0000-0001-6808-7534, Centre for Economic and Social Studies), Jason Hill (0000-0001-7609-6713, University of Minnesota), Inês L Azevedo (0000-0002-4755-8656, Stanford University), P J Adams (0000-0003-0041-058X, Carnegie Mellon University)
Year2022
Volume18
Issue1
Pages014005-014005
Publication date2022-12-05
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Research Letters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1748-9326 • E-ISSN: 1748-9326
PublisherIOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1088/1748-9326/aca8bb
OpenAlexW4311762452
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited36

India’s coal-heavy electricity system is the world’s third largest and a major emitter of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, it remains a focus of decarbonization and air pollution control policy. Considerable heterogeneity exists between states in India in terms of electricity demand, generation fuel mix, and emissions. However, no analysis has disentangled the expected, state-level spatial differences and interactions in air pollution mortality under current and future power sector policies in India. We use a reduced-complexity air quality model to evaluate annual PM 2.5 mortalities associated with electricity production and consumption in each state in India. Furthermore, we test emissions control, carbon tax, and market integration policies to understand how changes in power sector operations affect ambient PM 2.5 concentrations and associated mortality. We find poorer, coal-dependent states in eastern India disproportionately face the burden of PM 2.5 mortality from electricity in India by importing deaths. Wealthier, high renewable energy states in western and southern India meanwhile face a lower burden by exporting deaths. This suggests that as these states have adopted more renewable generation, they have shifted their coal generation and associated PM 2.5 mortality to eastern areas. We also find widespread sulfur emissions control decreases mortality by about 50%. Likewise, increasing carbon taxes in the short term reduces annual mortality by up to 9%. Market reform where generators between states pool to meet demand reduces annual mortality by up to 8%. As India looks to increase renewable energy, implement emissions control regulations, establish a carbon trading market, and move towards further power market integration, our results provide greater spatial detail for a federally structured Indian electricity system

Agricultural economics · Air pollution · Air quality index · Coal · Economics · Electricity · Electricity generation · Environmental protection · Geography · Greenhouse gas · Meteorology · Natural resource economics · Power (physics · Renewable energy · Waste management · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Energy and Environment Impacts · Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies · Engineering · Environmental Science · Pollution

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