Sun, Wind, and Biomass: India's Path to a Sustainable Future

By Michael B. McElroy and Prem Shankar Jha

Sun, Wind, and Biomass: India's Path to a Sustainable Future examines the current state of the Indian economy, tracing its trajectory towards a fossil fuel-free energy future. It posits that harnessing sun, wind, and biomass can provide a sustainable economic alternative to polluting energy sources such as domestic coal and expensive oil and gas imports. Such a transition is projected to provide substantial benefits not only for the national economy but also for public health, the latter occasioned by the anticipated improvements in air quality resulting from the projected change in the energy system. Contrary to the concerns about the negative implications for economic development, the authors suggest that the transition to a carbon-free future offers a range of beneficial opportunities, especially for the youth in impoverished rural environments. Thus, they situate India's transition away from fossil fuels within the context of planet Earth's history, underscoring the abruptness of humanity's encounter with the reality of a potentially devastating and relatively immediate change in global climate.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 019894473X
• ISBN13: 9780198944737
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 328 Pages