Business India ×
 Climate Change

Power
Published on: June 1, 2022, 2:42 p.m.
Energy goes from coal to green
  • With a total capacity of 203.35 GW, India has 173 thermal coal-fired power plants

By Business India Editorial

India plans to reduce power generation from at least 81 coal-fired utilities over the next four years, the Union power ministry said in a letter, in an effort to replace expensive thermal generation with cheaper green energy sources, according to a report by S&P Global Platts.

In a letter sent to energy departments of state and Union governments on 26 May, it was noted that current regulations call for thermal power plants to generate at a minimum of 55 per cent, although generation can be reduced to as low as 40 per cent.

In an effort to reduce the cost of power delivered to consumers, the ministry selected those power plants with higher tariffs.

A reduction of 58 billion kWh in power will result from this, according to the letter, adding that it will save 34.7 million tonnes (MT) of coal and cut carbon emissions by 60.2 MT. Furthermore, about 30,000 MW of renewable energy will be needed to transition to this, the letter said.

With this, India will be one step closer to its goal of generating 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030. Analysts, however, have called this goal ambitious and believe that India will have to take even bolder steps to meet its clean energy objectives.

With a total capacity of 203.35 GW, India has 173 thermal coal-fired power plants. This letter comes at a time when the country is struggling with a coal shortage, which pushed it into a power crisis in April, less than a year after it emerged from a similar crisis in October 2021.

On 30 May, S&P Global reported that India’s Coal India will procure coal for power stations operated by the federal government and state governments for the first time since 2015.


Energy

Despite global slowdown, investment interest in the Indian energy transition sector swelled in 2022

Energy transition could attract $25 billion investment

Published on March 30, 2023, 11:01 a.m.

Despite global slowdown, investment interest in the Indian energy transition sector swelled in 2022

Government and Policy

Sri Lankan Cabinet has given approval for an MoU on the cooperation in the field of renewable energy between the two countries

Sri Lanka, India to sign MoU in RE

Published on March 30, 2023, 10:43 a.m.

Sri Lankan Cabinet has given approval for an MoU on the cooperation in the field of renewable energy between the two countries

Investment

The world needs around $35 trillion for transition technology by 2030

IRENA calls for quadrupling of investments

Published on March 30, 2023, 10:21 a.m.

The world needs around $35 trillion for transition technology by 2030

Conservation

Is it time to turn to beasts to save the earth?

Can animals keep earth cool?

Published on March 30, 2023, 10:03 a.m.

Is it time to turn to beasts to save the earth?

E-MAGAZINE

Agriculture

The introduction of black pepper as an inter-crop in the sopari and coconut orchards, has enabled farmers to cultivate crops simultaneously

Skill Development

In 2020-21, the programme reached over 112,482 girls in urban and rural locations across six states in India, including 10,000 across Delhi

Collaboration

The event brought together stakeholders and changemakers to participate in a series of conversations on global trends and recent developments

Healthcare

The programme will focus on educating children on oral health and building awareness around the dangers of tobacco use