(1)_page-0001.jpg)
What's the article about?
- It talks about the importance of coal-fired power plants in meeting developmental requirements of India.
Relevance:
- GS3: Infrastructure: Energy;
- Prelims
|
Energy Basket of India:
Energy Generation Share:
|
Analysis:
- In an Idea Exchange with this paper last week, the Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, underlined the importance of coal-fired plants in meeting developmental requirements.
- He clarified that India’s climate commitment to “phase down” coal use will not come in the way of expanding its coal power capacity.
- The share of this fossil fuel in the energy mix will come down in percentage terms, but not in absolute measure. About 50 per cent of the electricity generated in the country currently comes from coal-fired plants. This is expected to come down to 30 per cent in the next 10 years.
- But India is planning to ramp up its electricity generation capacity to 865 GW from 407 GW. About 40 GW of this additional power will come from plants that burn coal.
|
Difference between Phase Out and Phase Down:
|
Why is coal still needed?
- The Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to reconfigurations in the energy sector. Several decommissioned coal plants in the EU have been re-evaluated.
- According to the International Energy Agency, the EU’s coal consumption rose by more than 10 per cent in the first six months of 2022, and it’s likely to increase in the coming weeks and months as winter intensifies.
- EU governments maintain that the fossil fuel’s comeback will be temporary.
- If geopolitical considerations can force developed countries to bring back coal, can India be faulted for continuing to use this fossil fuel for its developmental needs?
Way Forward:
- In the past 10 years, India has made rapid strides in expanding renewable energy. However, given its unstable nature, the grid will continue to fall back on coal-generated electricity. Also, new coal plants are more efficient — they emit less GHG.
- That said, India must begin work on plans for an energy scenario which has a negligible role for coal. The commitment to becoming a net zero GHG emitter by 2070 will require that the country prepares for it.
