New Delhi: India is considering an unprecedented increase in coal power capacity, potentially building new plants until at least 2047, according to people familiar with the development.
The proposal, currently under discussion between the power ministry and the government’s policymaking agency NITI Aayog, marks a major shift from current projections that see net additions peaking by 2035, said the people, who asked not to be named. Industry leaders will be informed as soon as the numbers are finalized, the people added.
The plan ties in with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambition to make the nation energy independent and upgrade its status from developing to developed nation by 2047. With enough reserves to last a century, policymakers are picking coal as the top option to reach those goals. Total coal-fired capacity could reach 420 gigawatts by 2047, a 87% rise from now, according to the ongoing discussions.
A spokesperson for the power ministry didn’t immediately respond to an email request for comment.
The government also envisions a rapid expansion of renewables and battery storage systems, but these sources are fraught with geopolitical risks, the people said. China, with whom India shares a disputed border, dominates much of the supply chain for batteries and solar panels.
Part of the proposed coal additions would be used to help balance the grid as more intermittent renewable generation comes online. The ministry is encouraging power plants to run more flexibly and is offering incentives for operators who shoulder additional expenses in the process.
While the coal build-out serves the energy security imperative, it will come with a cost for India’s climate efforts. Emissions would have to peak by 2045 in order for the country to reach Modi’s goal of being net zero by 2070, according to NITI Aayog projections.
India, the world’s third-largest polluter, has so far failed to follow more than 115 other signatories to the Paris Agreement in meeting a deadline of this year to publish new strategies for emissions reduction through 2035. Officials argue industrialized nations should carry a greater decarbonization burden and allow emerging economies to balance the need to accelerate growth.
Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Bloomberg News Service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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