India to comply; That tough decision will be implemented

The government is considering deregulating new coal-based power units as a first step towards fulfilling the international commitments made on carbon emissions. An expert panel tasked by the Union Energy Ministry to revise the National Power Policy (NEP) has recommended that new coal-fired plants should not be considered. The committee’s recommendation is that the closure of existing coal plants should be considered only if the energy generated from other sources is able to meet the needs of the country.

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At the UN General Assembly in Glasgow last month. At the Climate Change Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India aims to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2070. It also pledged to achieve an installed capacity of 500 gigawatts from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. The panel’s recommendation goes far beyond the energy ministry’s earlier claim that fossil fuels could be used more as a cost-effective source of electricity.

A senior government official said the report submitted by the expert committee in the last week of October was under consideration. Once the draft policy is prepared, it will be forwarded to the concerned departments for comments. The committee, chaired by former chairman of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission Girish Pradhan, made the recommendations after considering the arguments of the states. The National Electricity Policy sets out guidelines for the optimal utilization of resources such as coal, natural gas, nuclear materials, water and renewable energy sources. The policy was last revised in 2005.

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The decarbonization policy in the power system can be implemented to some extent by withdrawing inefficient plants and restructuring existing coal projects. Water and gas based projects are ideal for production. At the same time, coal plants will take time to reach the required production. It is also difficult to adjust the speed of plants when demand is low. The committee also recommended the closure of inefficient production units with higher heating rates before March 31, 2023.

In the future, the country will consider alternatives to coal-fired power plants. The recent shortage of coal in the country has had a major impact on power generation. This was a direct reflection of India’s illicit dependence on coal plants. It is also noteworthy that India is stepping up its efforts to keep its word as power shortages continue. The country is taking big steps, including in the automotive sector, to reduce carbon emissions.

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