India's Leading Planning Body to Unveil New Energy Policy

NITI Aayog, India’s top planning body, is expected to unveil the new National Energy Policy in the next three months with focus on natural gas, Press Trust of India reported Friday.

The policy will also lay stress on air quality issue, renewable energy, universal electrification and clean cooking fuel. The policy will replace Integrated Energy Policy that envisioned a road map for sustainable growth with energy security over a reasonable period of time. It was approved by the previous government.

"Earlier policy did not cover natural gas exhaustively as the prices were very high in 2006-07. Secondly, the government is pushing renewables which would be covered under this,” senior official told Press Trust. "The work on National Energy Policy is in advance stages. NITI Aayog would be able to bring out the policy in 10-12 weeks.”

The official also said that the policy will also make a case of "polluter pays" in view of deteriorating air quality, industrial emission and vehicular pollution.

The new policy will also incorporate energy modelling, which in other words is computerised simulation of a building or complex that focuses on energy consumption, utility bills and life cycle costs of various energy related items.

It is also used to evaluate 'payback' of green energy solutions like solar panels and photovoltaics, wind turbines and high efficiency appliances.