India is the world’s fourth largest and eighth fastest growing producer of greenhouse gas emissions. The largest single contributor to greenhouse gasses in India is the country’s power sector. Using old equipment, inefficient technologies, poor maintenance practices and low-quality coal, Indian power stations emit more greenhouse gas (GHG) than similar coal-fired power stations in the United States.

USAID’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Prevention Project (GEP) helps India reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by introducing new technologies and best practices to promote the use of clean energy. GEP introduces technologies and best-practices to enhance the efficiency of India’s coal-fired power plants and promotes the use of alternative energy sources and decentralized renewable energy production and distribution systems. Working directly with the Indian power sector, GEP:

• Conducts demonstration economic and technical feasibility studies for advance power generation technologies;
• Provides technical assistance to optimize the performance of power plants;
• Trains power plant managers and engineers in clean, cost-saving energy practices; and
• Fosters the use of alternative fuels such as biomass and bio-gas for efficient on-site power generation.

GEP’s focus on improving the performance in coal-fired power stations, alternative biomass cogeneration and clean energy projects has helped India avoid emitting millions of tons of greenhouse gasses and has saved the power sector millions of dollars in coal costs.