Mailing address
Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs
79 John F. Kennedy Street, Mailbox 53
Cambridge, MA, 02138
Ambuj Sagar
Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
Contact:
Telephone: (617)-496-6218
Fax: (617)-495-8963
Email: ambuj_sagar@harvard.edu
Experience
Ambuj Sagar is a Research Associate in the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program and the lead researcher for the India component of STPP and the Environment and Natural Resources Program (ENRP)'s Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group. Dr. Sagar's interests lie in technology policy and environmental policy as well as issues that are at the nexus of these two areas. While his current research focuses mainly on energy technology innovation and the environment in India, he also studies, more broadly, various facets of technology innovation and global environmental issues. Dr. Sagar holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in Materials Science, as well as an M.S. in Technology and Policy, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His recent papers have focused on energy R&D in India, energy innovation policy, climate change, and capacity development for the environment. He was also a contributing author to the the IPCC Third Assessment Report.
Carsten Karl
Winter 2007/08
"Cleaner Power in India: Towards a Clean-Coal-Technology Roadmap"
Discussion Paper
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
Investigating the role of coal in India's energy sector, Chikkatur and Sagar emphasize the need for a technology roadmapping process. They highlight the interlinkages between technology innovation and public policy and provide an analytical framework to help delineate the kinds of questions that scholars and practitioners need to ask in addressing India's coal sector.
World Bank
December 2007
"Towards Better Technology Policies for the Indian Coal-Power Sector"
Journal Article, Energy for Sustainable Development, issue 4, volume XI
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
This paper assesses the suitability of current and emerging advanced power generation technologies for the Indian context and presents some technology policy implications of this assessment and analysis to help the Indian coal-power sector meet the country’s energy needs in a sustainable manner.
December 2007
"Past as Prologue: An Innovation-Diffusion Approach to Additionality"
Journal Article, Climate Policy, issue 3, volume 7
By Ajay Mathur, Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
The authors propose a simple test for additionality that draws on the framework of the diffusion of innovations, especially the risk-profile of adopters of new technologies or innovations.
November 20, 2007
"Developing Better Policies in the Indian Coal Sector"
Presentation
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
Chikkatur and Sagar discuss the role of coal in India's energy supply, key challenges related to the growth of India's coal sector, and special institutional and governance issues. They conclude by highlighting key areas for policy focus.
November 20, 2007
"Developing Better Policies for the Sustainable Development of the Indian Coal Sector"
Conference Paper
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
Coal accounts for about 70% of total electricity generation in India and is likely to remain a key energy source for at least the next 30-40 years. An increase in India's use of coal resources for its energy supply must occur through environmentally and socially sustainable development of this sector.
July 2007
"Tariff-Based Incentives for Improving Coal-Power-Plant Efficiencies in India"
Journal Article, Energy Policy, issue 7, volume 35
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy, Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy, Nikit Abbyankar and N. Sreekumar
Energy Policy article assessing the efficiency of coal-based power plants and its role in the performance of India's power sector.
March 13, 2007
"Towards Better Coal Power Technology Policies"
Op-Ed, The Financial Express
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
Coal-based power plants are—and will continue to be—the backbone of India’s energy engine. They currently account for about 69 out of 128-gigawatt installed capacity of utilities, and projections by the Planning Commission indicate that coal will fuel the power sector for at least the next three decades.
February 2007
U.S. Government Investments in Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Database
Fact Sheet
By Kelly Sims Gallagher, Director, Energy Technology Innovation Policy, Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy, Diane Segal, Paul de Sa, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and John P. Holdren, Director and Faculty Chair, Science, Technology and Public Policy Program
U.S. Government Investments in Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Database: a database in Microsoft Excel format tracking budget requests on energy-technology research, development, and demonstraton (RD&D) from 1978–2008, including charts.
2006
"Symposium 2006: Climate Change, Energy, and Developing Countries"
Journal Article, Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, volume 7 2005-2006
By Ananth Chikkatur, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy, Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy and Hongyan He Oliver, Research Fellow, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
An analysis of the role of developing countries vis-a-vis the climate problem and the global energy situation must begin with an understanding of the role of energy in economic, social, and human development.
December 7, 2006
"Will India Suffer From an Energy Crunch?"
Op-Ed, India Today
By Ambuj Sagar, Senior Research Associate, Energy Technology Innovation Policy
Op-Ed in India Today on India's struggle to meet the country's growing energy demand.
