India has made notable progress in renewable energy, with goals to achieve 50% renewable power by 2030 and 100% by 2070. However, coal remains central to the country’s energy mix, constituting 75% of power supply.
Anil Kumar Jha, former chairman of Coal India, emphasizes that coal will be indispensable for the next 10 to 20 years due to the lack of sufficient alternatives to meet current energy demands.
Coal production in India has surged to 893 million tons for 2022-2023, reflecting a 14% increase from the previous year. This rise aligns with growing electricity demand driven by a booming economy, increased air conditioner use, and expanding electric vehicle adoption.
As Sooraj Narayan from Wood Mackenzie notes, coal remains the most reliable and cost-effective energy source amidst these demands.
Renewable energy capacity rises, but coal still dominates due to reliability issues.Despite advancements in renewable energy, which now accounts for 22% of power generation, challenges persist.
Solar and wind energy are highly variable, dependent on weather conditions, and currently unreliable for consistent power supply. Hydropower, while contributing significantly, faces delays and complications due to fluctuating rainfall patterns.
India’s renewable capacity stands at 180 gigawatts, with plans to reach 500 gigawatts by 2030. However, high costs and limited financing for grid-scale battery storage hinder progress.
Investments are crucial to transition effectively, with a need for substantial foreign capital to support this shift. As Narayan points out, the country’s grid infrastructure is not yet equipped to handle variable renewable sources efficiently.
All-around, while India is advancing towards a greener future, coal will continue to play a significant role in the energy landscape until reliable and scalable alternatives can fully meet the nation’s needs.