Subhes C Bhattacharyya

Professor Subhes C Bhattacharyya

Job: Professor of Energy Economics and Policy

Faculty: Computing, Engineering and Media

School/department: School of Engineering and Sustainable Development

Research group(s): Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD)

Address: 51黑料社区, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH UK

T: +44 (0)116 257 7975

E: subhesb@dmu.ac.uk

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Personal profile

Professor Bhattacharyya is the Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures and the REF Coordinator for the Unit of Assessment 13 (Architecture and the Built Environment) for REF2029. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Energy for Sustainable Development, an Elsevier journal.

An internationally renowned specialist of energy for international development with more than 35 years of experience in global energy-environment issues, Professor Subhes specialises in energy, regulatory and environmental studies with a focus on developing country energy systems. He has extensively investigated energy access issues in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa since 2002 and has led award-winning research in this area through funded projects. He has also extensively worked on energy sector management issues such as energy sector regulation and restructuring in developing countries, and policy issues related to energy security, climate change, natural resource utilisation and sustainable development. Subhes mainly focuses on applied, multi-disciplinary research that combines engineering, economics, and regulatory and environmental analysis. His research benefits from his past industry experience and his personal knowledge of working with developing country situations. Subhes’ research is supported by various modelling efforts, including end-use type long-range energy-environment system modelling, operations research and other decision support systems as well as regulatory and investment analysis tools. He provides advice on energy related issues on a regular basis.

He is the author of the best-selling book: Energy Economics: Concepts, Issues, Markets and Governance (Second Edition, Springer, 2019). He has also edited a number of other books particularly on rural electrification, mini-grids and energy in Asia. His research project OASYS South Asia received Green Gown Award for Community Innovation at the national and international categories in 2015.

Research group affiliations

nstitute for Sustainable Futures

Publications and outputs

dc.title: Exploring the connections between mini-grid market regulation and energy access expansion: The case of Nigeria dc.contributor.author: Sesan, Temilade; Uduka, Unico; Baker, Lucy; Ugwu, Okechukwu; Eleri, Ewah; Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: About 140 million people across Africa are expected to gain access to electricity from mini grids by 2040. Nigeria, with the least dependable electricity supply on the continent, stands to benefit significantly from this boon. Accordingly, the government has put in place clear regulations to incentivise private investment and drive market growth. While the techno-economic dimensions of the growing mini-grid sector and the broader electricity industry have been extensively studied, less attention has been paid to analysing the impacts of the regulatory framework on the achievement of rural electrification and universal energy access goals. Drawing on qualitative data obtained from key regulatory and market actors in the Nigerian mini-grid sector, this paper interrogates the premise of pursuing widespread rural electrification through a regulatory framework that is primarily geared toward increasing market efficiency. The study finds that, while the current framework has enabled growth in the sector, complementary mechanisms are required to achieve equitable distribution of access, especially among the mainly rural populations dwelling on the fringes of mainstream electricity markets. The findings are instructive for practitioners and policy makers seeking evidence-informed approaches to achieving the goal of universal energy access in Africa. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
dc.title: Evolution of GIS-based rural electrification planning models and an Application of OnSSET in Nigeria dc.contributor.author: Isihak, Salisu; Akpan, Uduak; Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: This study carries out an in-dept overview of GIS-based rural electrification planning models with a trace to their historical evolutions. The study focuses on web-based and desktop-based models that have been developed and used extensively in rural electrification planning in recent years. Specifically, four of such models are considered: SOLARGIS, Network Planner, the Reference Electrification Model (REM), and OpeN Source Spatial Electrification Tool (OnSSET). We compare the performance of these models and conclude that OnSSET has better capabilities than the other models. Specifically, we find OnSSET very useful because it is open source. We demonstrate the application of OnSSET in a state in Nigeria, i.e. Kaduna State. The state is selected because of data availability. The result of the study shows that mini-grid solar PV is the cost-effective technology option for most unelectrified communities, followed by Standalone PV. Furthermore, the cost of achieving universal electricity access in the state by 2030 is estimated at US$505.08million while an additional generation capacity of 252MW will be required to achieve universal electricity coverage by 2030. The study concludes that the financial requirement seems to be beyond the capacity of Kaduna State given the prevailing economic realities in Nigeria and recommends that pro-poor public-private partnership strategies be considered for electrification projects in the state.
dc.title: Oil and Subsidies dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: Socio-political reasons have often influenced retail price of petroleum products in both oil exporting and oil importing countries. Countries have used differential fiscal measures to tax or subsidise petroleum products. Subsidised products have resulted in higher demand for products, which in turn has contributed to environmental pollution, higher import dependency for importers and loss of export revenue for exporters. The main purpose of this chapter is to present an analysis of global oil subsidies. The chapter presents different types of oil subsidies prevalent in different segments of the oil supply chain and highlights the factors and considerations that influence subsidy decisions. A comparison of recent oil subsidy estimates is then presented which reveals significant variation among studies due to differences in the assumptions and estimation methodologies. The effects of oil subsidies and the implications of oil subsidy removal are then considered. The analysis presented here highlights the difficulties in subsidy estimation due to the presence of multiple and divergent factors. It also draws attention to the potential loss of welfare for the poorer section of the population chapter and the consequent potential for a return to traditional fuel wood for meeting energy needs by the poor. Any subsidy removal programmes need to take care of such regressive outcomes.
dc.title: Clean Energy Financing: Sources, Instruments, Risks and Mitigation Options, dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: As the international community prepares for urgent and unprecedented interventions towards a low-carbon transition, the global attention on clean energy projects takes the centre stage. Although investment in clean energy and energy efficiency has grown, there is a wide funding gap to reach the 1.5掳 C pathway. Accordingly, mobilising finance to support clean energy projects remains a major challenge. This chapter presents a review of the clean energy finance mechanisms and highlights alternative sources of finance, covering the traditional public sector led financing as well as more innovative options. It also presents a review of alternative instruments used in clean energy projects. Main risks to clean energy finance and options to mitigate them will also be reviewed. The chapter finally offers lessons from successful and not-so-successful projects. Although public finance has supported clean energy development initially, the private sector has an important role to play. Similarly, the international finance flow has supported the projects with grants and concessional finance but in the future domestic resources of finance will have to play a bigger role to bridge the financing gap. Accordingly, innovative ways of attracting domestic finance particularly through green bonds has received global attention. Similarly, large corporates have started to commit to a renewable energy transition and the corporate PPA is emerging as a new trend to support renewable energy projects. The global recession due to the recent pandemic has however brought new uncertainties in clean energy investment due to strain on public finance. The risk of managing the viability gap for clean energy projects remains a concern. The enabling regulatory environment is required to support clean energy investments and attract finance from national and international sources. dc.description: open access book
dc.title: Strengthening commercial viability through greater inclusiveness in rural mini- grid deployment: Insights from Nigeria and Kenya dc.contributor.author: Sesan, Temilade; Fajardo, Adriana; Baker, Lucy; Uduka, Unico; Kausya, Mourice; Kerr, Daniel William; Onsongo, Elsie; Ugwu, Okechukwu; Eleri, Ewah; Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: Amidst the prevalence of energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, mini grids have emerged in recent years as a promising solution, not only to bridge lingering electricity access gaps, but also to revitalise rural economies. The realisation of this promise however depends on the extent to which business models, i.e., the value that mini-grid companies offer to different customer segments, are able to respond to the peculiar needs of the largely low-income, agrarian contexts in which they operate. Private developers across the region have been especially innovative in evolving mini-grid business models over time; nonetheless, achieving the goal of commercial viability while serving the majority of rural dwellers remains elusive. Our paper analyses how two private mini-grid developers in Nigeria and Kenya have approached this challenge, introducing business models that address the needs of small- scale farmers for growth while targeting increased revenue for their respective companies. These cases provide evidence for the added value of employing a 鈥淜ey Starter鈥� model 鈥� one in which developers begin to facilitate inputs early on in agricultural value chains, in addition to the latter-stage investments emphasised in conventional approaches to powering the agriculture-energy nexus. Our analysis is grounded in the premise that broad-based development should be pursued in tandem with electricity access provision in low-income agrarian communities across Africa. We conclude that significant financial and policy support, as well as further research and iteration, will be required to realise the potential of the KeyStarter model to resolve the twin challenges of mini-grid viability and inclusiveness at scale. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
dc.title: Developmental discourses of transition in the Indian transport sector: A corpus linguistic survey of the literature dc.contributor.author: Mitchell, Andrew; Kerr, Daniel William; Rowlatt, John; Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: India is a large nation state facing the twin challenges of economic development and the need to transition away from its path dependence on coal towards a low-carbon infrastructure. By applying corpus linguistics to a sampled literature on decarbonising India鈥檚 transport sector, we explore three motifs of difference, viz. 鈥榗hange鈥�, 鈥榙ecarbonisation鈥� and 鈥榯ransition鈥�, and how these motifs are applied within the context of this academic literature to refer to potential opportunities to transform India鈥檚 developmental trajectory. We find that rather than exploring such opportunities, the sampled papers tend to recirculate discourses influenced by eco-modernisation which, although proposing change to India鈥檚 carbon footprint, leave the fundamental structure of India鈥檚 neo-liberal economic model unchallenged, even though, from a developmental discourse perspective, this lies at the root of climate change, and for meaningful change to occur it must be addressed. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
dc.title: All Change: Equitably Decarbonising India's Transportation Sector dc.contributor.author: Mitchell, Andrew; Rowlatt, John; Kerr, Daniel William; Bhattacharyya, Subhes; Ahuja, Nupur; Gautam, Nehal; Agarwal, Naman; Das, Sukanya; Sarangi, Gopal K. dc.description.abstract: Executive summary: Key findings 鈥� There is limited focus on just transitions in the transport sector: in both academic literature and policy to date, technical solutions have received policy and research priority, but there is limited focus on how end-users will be affected by transport transitions, and whether these transitions will be equitable, inclusive and just. Several factors should be addressed under this: ensuring that transitions lead to affordable mobility solutions for all users is a key point, as is ensuring that job losses from high-carbon mobility services are compensated for by job creation in low-carbon mobility. From our key informant interviews, policymakers are focused on the supply-side when considering transport transitions, contrasting with users鈥� concerns of demand-side support and downstream services, particularly for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. These tensions need to be addressed in policy. 鈥� There is potential for significant socio-economic impacts from the transition: this research has investigated the potential pains and gains of the transition to electric mobility, particularly electric road transport, in the Indian transport sector. There is potential for job losses both in the downstream oil sector and the downstream mobility services sector as the EV transition progresses due to reduced petroleum product consumption and a lesser burden of maintenance for electric vehicles compared to ICE vehicles. This also has the potential to impact government revenues from fuel taxation and place a higher burden on the government purse from increased electricity subsidy outlay. 鈥� Just transition alternatives exist: from the scenarios presented in this research, it is clear the current policy trend does not foreground justice and equity in the low-carbon transport transition, and this will lead to significant negative impacts for disadvantaged sectors of society. Policy alternatives exist to foreground justice in the transport transition, including participatory co-development of policy with end-users, and engendering greater coordination between transport and energy sectors and within the transport sector to ensure users are targeted equally across socio-economic strata with low-carbon mobility solutions. dc.description: open access report
dc.title: Reducing non-residential asset sanitisation water footprint for improved public health in water-deficient cities dc.contributor.author: Tiwary, Abhishek; Bhattacharyya, Subhes; Matouq, Mohammed dc.description.abstract: This paper evaluates the potential for reconfiguring city-scale clean water demand by reducing the non-residential asset sanitsation water footprint. A novel methodological framework is proposed for assessing the feasibility of a mix of three surface sanitisation measures (Manual surface wiping, Mechanical cleaning/Rapid disinfectant spraying, Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation-UVGI treatment) in terms of a Sanitisation waterfootprint index (SWI); three typical application scenarios are considered 鈥� high risk-high frequency, moderate risk-moderate frequency, moderate risk-low frequency. The UVGI treatment outperforms the other two surface treatment methods, particularly in high risk-high frequency scenario in the healthcare setting, with SWI as low as 2%. Further, case-study evidence from a ward-level spatial analysis using real-world data estimates SWI ranging between 0-30% in those wards with greater commercial/public assets, showing clear merit of this framework in re-configuring city-scale public health sanitisation water footprint. A cost-benefit analysis (involving resources 鈥� staffing, water and chemicals; capital expenditure, and energy costs) shows superior performance of UVGI treatment over the other two methods from the second year onwards, surpassing the initial cost-effectiveness for corresponding manual or mechanical cleaning. Wider implementation of this framework can foster strategic transformation of city-scale water footprint, which is deemed essential for ensuring sustainable growth of water deficient cities globally. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
dc.title: Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Urban Climate Plans in the UK and Japan: A text analysis dc.contributor.author: Ozawa-Meida, L.; Ortiz-Moya, Fernando; Painter, B.; Hengesbaugh, Matthew; Nakano, Ryoko; Yoshida, Tetsuro; Zusman, Eric; Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: Cities are increasingly adopting potentially sustainable climate plans. Integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into these plans could help stabilize the climate while generating jobs, narrowing equity gaps, fostering innovation, and delivering other sustainability benefits. Yet, how much cities are integrating the SDGs into climate plans remains poorly understood. This article shed light on this question with a text analysis of SDG 鈥渒eywords鈥� in climate plans for two British and two Japanese cities. The results revealed that none of the surveyed cities have connected climate with socioeconomic priorities covered in SDG1 (poverty), SDG8 (employment), SDG5 (gender), and SDG10 (inequalities). Meanwhile, the United Kingdom cities made more connections between climate and responsible consumption and production (SDG12) than the Japanese cities. Further, Kyoto, Japan shares a climate-SDGs linkages profile that resembles the United Kingdom cities more than Kawasaki. Though not without limitations, text analysis can facilitate the city-to-city peer learning needed to make urban climate plans sustainable within and across countries. dc.description: open access article
dc.title: Proceedings of the Virtual International Conference on Aligning Local Interventions with the UN Sustainable Development Goals dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharyya, Subhes dc.description.abstract: This publication presents a summary of the conference and offers a compilation of the papers presented in various sessions of the conference. Papers included in the publication have undergone a light touch review and although an attempt has been to harmonise the style by adopting a common template, some deviations remain. The final versions of the papers as submitted by the authors have been included here. They have not undergone any language editing. dc.description: Open access

Click here to view a full listing of Subhes C Bhattacharyya's publications and outputs.

Key research outputs

Books:
1) Bhattacharyya, SC, Energy Economics: Concepts, Issues, Markets and Governance, Springer, UK, 10.1007/978-1-4471-7468-4; ISBN: 978-1-4471-7467-7 849pp, 2019, Second Edition.
2) Bhattacharyya, SC (ed.), Routledge Handbook of Energy in Asia, Routledge, ISBN: 978-1-138-99982-4, 2017.
3) Bhattacharyya, SC (ed.), Rural Electrification through Decentralised Off-grid Systems in Developing Countries, Springer, ISBN 978-1-4471-4673-5, 297p, 2013.
4) Bhattacharyya, SC and D Palit, (eds.), 4) Mini-grids for rural electrification of developing countries: Analysis and case studies from South Asia, Springer-Verlag, 2014, ISBN 9783319048154.

#Selected Journal papers:

1) T Sesan, A Fajardo, L Baker, U Uduka, M Kausya, D Kerr, E Onsongo, O Ugwu, E Eleri, and S Bhattacharyya, 2024, 1) Strengthening commercial viability through greater inclusiveness in rural mini-grid deployment: Insights from Nigeria and Kenya, Energy for Sustainable Development, ()
2) T Sesan, U Uduka, L Baker, O Ugwu, E Eleri and S Bhattacharyya, 2023, 2) Exploring the connections between mini-grid market regulation and energy access expansion: the case of Nigeria, Energy Policy 113891, 2023.
3) A Mitchell, D Kerr, J Rowlatt and S Bhattacharyya, 3) Developmental discourses of transition in the Indian transport sector: A corpus linguistic survey of the literature, Human Geography 16(3): .
4) Salisu Isihak, U Akpan and S Bhattacharyya, 2022, 4) Evolution of GIS-based rural electrification planning models and an Application of OnSSET in Nigeria, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transition (Vol. 2, DOI: )
5) A Tiwary, M. Matouq and S Bhattacharyya, 2021, 5) Reducing non-residential asset sanitisation water footprint for improved public health in water-deficient cities, Sustainable Cities and Society, 75, December 2021, DOI:10.1016/j.scs.2021.103268.

Research interests/expertise

Subhes’ research interest lies in the following areas:

1) the interface between sustainable development and decarbonisation issues from governance and equitability perspectives both in developed and developing country contexts at different scales (local, national and regional);
2) energy as a catalyst for sustainable development, particularly for the base of the pyramid market;
3) the complex interactions between affordable and resilient energy systems for urban, peri-urban and rural communities.

Areas of teaching

Energy and Sustainable Development
Energy Economics
Energy Regulation
Oil and gas economics

Qualifications

Subhes holds a PhD and an Advanced Masters degree in Applied Economics with specialisation in Energy Economics from the University Pierre Mendes France, Grenoble II, Grenoble, France. He also holds a Master of Engineering in Energy Planning and Policy from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Bengal Engineering College, University of Calcutta, India.

Courses taught

He has taught the following courses:

Sustainable Development

Energy Economics and Policy

Energy Economics

Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development,

Economics of regulation and restructuring of energy industries,

Petroleum Policy and Economics

Energy Data Analysis,

Energy Demand Analysis and Forecasting,

Oil and Gas Economics, and

Economics of Energy Projects.

Honours and awards

1. Green Gown Award International 2015 - for Community Innovation for OASYS South Asia Project given by Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, UK.

2. Green Gown Award National 2015 - for Community Innovation for OASYS South Asia Project given by Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges, UK.

Membership of external committees

Member of EPSRC Peer Review Panel – since 2009.

Member of ESRC Peer Review College

Member of Energy Institute College - since 2015.

Membership of professional associations and societies

Fellow, Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
Fellow, Energy Institute (FEI)
Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy (SrF HEA)
Institute of Engineers (India) life member.

Projects

Project details	Funding agency	Period	Role
Assessing opportunities and challenges for supporting mini-grids in India to reduce Energy poverty	DFID	6 months, January to June 2016	Research Leader
Global Innovation Initiative – Consortium for Rapid Smart Grid Impact	US Department of State	2014-2016	Co-Principal Investigator
Nexus Network Think Piece	Nexus Network (ESRC funded)	2013	Principal Investigator
Agent-based Modelling of Electricity Networks	EPSRC	20013-2016	Co-Investigator
Energy Brief	World Health Organisation	2012-2013	Principal Investigator
OASYS South Asia – Business Models for off-grid electrification in South Asia	EPSRC and DFID	2009-2015	Principal Investigator
Review of Energy Demand Forecasting models	The World Bank	2009-2010	Consultant
Restructuring of Thai Electricity Industry	EGAT, Thailand	2002-2003	Co-Investigator
GNESD Energy Access Study	Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development	2002-2003	Co-Principal Investigator
CD4CDM – Capacity building for CDM in Asian region	UNEP-Risoe	2002-2003	Co-Principal Investigator

Consultancy work

Subhes’ areas of expertise for consulting purposes include energy pricing, energy regulation, energy access, off-grid electrification, renewable energy policies, etc.

Subhes has worked with consulting firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers (India), National Economic Research Associates (NERA) and Development Consultants Limited (India). He has also worked as a short-term consultant for the World Bank.

Current research students

Subhes is supervising a PhD student (as second supervisor).

Externally funded research grants information

1) Sustainability, inclusiveness and governance of mini-grids in Africa (SIGMA), UKRI - GCRF, March 2020 to March 2024. Principal Investigator
2) All change: Equitably decarbonising India’s transport sector (Decarb-IT), The British Academy, November 2021 - March 2022, Principal Investigator
3) Integrating the sustainable development goals into climate planning in British and Japanese cities, ESRC, January 2019 - August 2020, Principal Investigator
4) Assessing opportunities and challenges for supporting mini-grids in India to reduce Energy poverty, DFID (UK AID), January to June 2016, Research Lead
5) Global Innovation Initiative – Consortium for Rapid Smart Grid Impact, US Department of Education, Co-Principal Investigator
6) OASYS South Asia – Business Models for off-grid electrification in South Asia, EPSRC, October 2009 to September 2015

Professional esteem indicators

Subhes was the Co-Editor of International Journal of Energy Sector Management since its inception in 2007 until end of 2012.

He is now the Editor-in-Chief of Energy for Sustainable Development. He was also in the Editorial Board of Environmental Research Letters and AIMS Energy.

He is a member of EPSRC Peer Review College and Energy Institute College. He reviews grant applications, application for promotion to academic positions, and book proposals for publishers on a regular basis.

He is an external examiner of MSc Taught Programmes for the following:

1) Nottingham Trent University, College of Science and Technology (2021-2025)
2) Business School of Aberdeen University for 2021-2025 (Distance Learning delivery)
3) Imperial College, MSc in Climate Change, Management and Finance, 2024-25 to 27-28.Business

He was previously an external examiner of the University of Aberdeen and CASS Business School, City University London.

Case studies

Transforming rural lives through mini-grids in India ()

Green Gown International award 2015 for Community Innovation for OASYS South Asia project

https://www.eauc.org.uk/2015_international_green_gown_award_winners