1. Topic: Examining the regional pattern of renewable energy CDM power projects in India
2. Host: Aparna Sawhney, professor of international trade and development center of international institute in Nehru University in India. She graduated from Columbia University in 1995 and awarded PhD in economics. Her research field includes world trade, renewable energy, environmental economics, sustainable development, etc. Her research achievements were published in global economics journal such as The World Economy、Energy Economics、Review of Development Economics、Review of Environmental Economics and Policy and she published a book namely 《The New Face of Environmental Management in India》. She serves as a researcher for Indian government in the field of climate change, energy policy, global trade and investment. She is a member of several international academic institutions, an organizer of global meetings and chairmen of committees.
3. Time: December, 9th, 2015(Wednesday), 12:30-13:30
4. Place: Main Building Room 913
5. Host: Huang Zhigang, Associate Professor of School of Finance, CUFE.
Abstract: India is one of the leading host countries of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects, but these projects have been concentrated within ten states of the country. While the skewed distribution of CDM projects across countries is well recognized, little attention has been given to the skewed distribution of CDM projects within a country like India. We examine the different factors that account for the regional distribution of renewable energy based CDM power projects in India using state-specific and renewable form-specific explanatory variables including natural potential, economic conditions, and government policies. We find that state implementation of fiscal incentive measures and CDM benefit-sharing were the most significant factors in locating these projects within the states, apart from natural renewable potential. In the top ten states, controlling for the government incentives and subsidies, the pre-installed renewable power capacity was also a significant factor. State financial incentives and CDM benefit clause were also found to be the most significant factor in the generation of certified emission reductions from CDM projects. Unfortunately states with relatively higher natural potential lost out on the additional product gains through CERs, and an important aspect of the CDM approach seems to have been missed in India- that of promoting development in other regions of the country which had natural potential.
