Amit Garg

Blockchain based Peer-to-peer energy sharing and trading platform:

From being central generation to decentralized power generation, the energy systems are undergoing a rapid transition nationally and internationally. With the proliferation of rooftop solar system, electric vehicles and energy storage, grid based electricity is slowly becoming a backup supply. Furthermore, decentralized approach has opened up numerous opportunities of trading and transfer of electricity between sources of distributed generation, load points and grid companies. The proposed segregation of wire and supply of electricity will change the way electricity sector functions bringing in much needed competition and choice for buyers. However, peer to peer trading will also lead to challenge of handling a very large volume of trades every minute, which can be addressed using blockchain technology, an open and decentralized ledger that allows users to get into instant contracts, track fulfilment and process settlements instantly.

Water-energy-agriculture-climate change nexus:

Water is projected to become a scare resource in medium- to long-terms, if not managed well. Water stresses are already being experienced by Indian rural as well as expanding urban areas. We are measuring irrigation pumping efficiency and also including water as a resource in bottom-up energy-economy-environment models. Smart grids and grid responsive buildings: Smart grids are required for a third industrial revolution. For instance, grid-responsive and connected building application is key to link energy efficiency and daily operations, such as demand response (DR), to achieve electricity reliability and operational efficiency

Green Infrastructure, Energy Policy and Energy Modelling:

Green infrastructure and energy systems, regional and sectoral policies, global and national policies, technology policies and socio-economic policy analysis for economy-energy- environment. We have also introduced new courses such as "Managing Energy Businesses" and "Energy markets and Agribusinesses" at IIMA for management students since last year. I also have intensive experience with internationally used models like MARKAL and AIM family (Enduse, Local, Country, Trend, Air). I have also worked closely with the International Energy Agency for their World Energy Outlook 2006.

Green products and services:

I created and co-founded one of the first Eco-Label in India for product and services THE GREEN SIGNAL in June 2011 that certified environmental footprints of products and services during their use phase. Link

Green corporates:

I conceptualized and co-founded another green label for Indian corporates with Bombay Stock Exchange termed as GREENEX in February 2012. The index captured the energy and greenhouse gas intensities of BSE-100 companies. This index consistently out-performed BSE Sensex. Link

Uncertainty assessment and risk management for corporates due to climate change:

Corporates and businesses are increasingly becoming sensitive to the additional risks from changing climate. The risks could be myriad such as physical threats to infrastructure, to supply chains, to demand centers, energy prices, and carbon pricing. We help to quantify additional risks faced and to design risk management strategies including appropriate financing and insurance products, and also to leverage existing adaptation funding mechanisms.

Carbon Finance:

This is a fast emerging area internationally and is drawing considerable interests from business, government and common public alike. We are teaching new courses such as "Carbon Finance" and "Agribusiness and Carbon Finance" at IIMA for management students since last 4 years. These cover carbon market concepts, financial instruments for carbon mitigation, financing carbon mitigation projects and technologies, and emerging carbon finance opportunities. These courses have become quite popular since their initial offerings. I also guide post-graduate students for independent business and research projects on carbon markets and finance issues.

Adaptation Policy for Climate Change Impacts:

Climate change impacts and vulnerability assessment, practice and policy inter-linkages for adaptation - especially for long-life assets, development and adaptation to climate change.

Climate Change Mitigation Policy:

GHG emission mitigation potential assessment, construction and analysis of alternative mitigation scenarios, non-CO2 gas emission projections and mitigation analysis.

Development, Energy and Climate Change:

Energy and income generation relationships, energy transitions and development, Millennium development goals, energy and climate change, linkages between alternate development pathways and GHG emissions, equity aspects of climate change mitigation on human health (through mitigating local air pollution).

Solar agriculture pumps:

India has over 25 million agriculture pumpsets, and the power supply is not reliable at many locations. This adversely impacts optimum irrigation to various crops while creating uncertainty and increased cost (diesel pumps) for the farmers. Electricity subsidy is also a huge burden on State exchequer. Solar systems could provide solution.

Emission Inventory Assessment:

Developed sub-regional and large point source level energy consumption, GHG and local pollutant emissions inventory for India. It is designed as an instrument for regional and sectoral business and policy analysis of Indian emissions. Non-CO2 GHG emission assessment, future projections and mitigation analysis are my core research interests. Corporate accounting of greenhouse gas emissions and strategies to mitigate these are integral aspects of my research interests.

Demand Side Management:

End-use electricity efficiency improvements offer an inexpensive way to reduce power shortages. The economic potential for cost-effective end-use energy efficiency improvements could be large enough to eliminate electricity shortages. The saved electricity could be provided as additional power to high-end consumers or to fulfill social policy agenda such as providing 1 kWh-electricity per day to every rural household. Provision of electricity is an enabling condition for enhancing productivity and income generation of poor households.

New and Renewable Energy Technology Policy:

Renewable energy and climate change, global status and outlook on renewable energy, new technologies such as CO2 capture and storage, IGCC and their potential and implications for energy systems, multiple GHG sink-source modeling in a GIS-environment for India, regional and sectoral emission source clustering.