Optimal Targets for India’s Per Capita Electricity Use and Energy Mix

Economic growth and human development are generally based on the assumption of corresponding increase in per capita energy use. The Economic Survey 2018–19 published by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, has recommended a fourfold increase in the country per capita primary energy use from the current level to achieve the human development index (HDI) target of 0.8. The supply and environmental challenges for achieving such a high level of per capita primary energy use are formidable, if not insurmountable. Development experience of Sri Lanka, and Kerala suggests that high level of human development is possible even at lower per capita energy use, if complemented by adequate public investment in health and education. With a per capita electricity use of 1500 kWh by 2030 and 2500 kWh by 2050, India can achieve significant improvement in human development from the present level without imposing a large energy footprint.