India still a long way from cutting its dependence on coal-fired plants

Of India’s existing coal-fired power capacity, 21.18 per cent was added after the 2015 Paris Climate Accords. Although China added about fivefold that of India’s capacity in the same period, it still made up 18.5 per cent of its current operating capacity of 1,074.1 gigawatt (Gw).
 

India submitted its enhanced climate targets for 2030 to the UN in August — two of which include reducing the total carbon intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 (from 2005 levels) and achieving a 50 per cent installed electric power capacity through non-fossil sources by 2030. Data, however, shows that India is still a long way from cutting its dependence on coal-fired plants.

India is the world's second-largest coal-producing nation (770 million tonnes per annum) and coal accounts for 50 per cent of the 407.79 Gw of electricity generation in the country. 

India has the least coal-fired power capacity retirements (0.22 Gw) planned until 2040. The US plans to retire more than half of its current capacity — 111.18 Gw — by 2040. In comparison, China's planned retirements make up only 0.6 per cent of its installed capacity and India's retirements comprise only 0.1 per cent of its operating capacity.

Last month, the UN published an assessment of the climate pledges of its member states and came to a grim conclusion. The targets and commitments put forth by the countries are insufficient to restrict global temperatures according to the goals set in 2016. 

New planned coal projects in India — 99 new projects with a production of 427 mtpa — are hardly good news for enviro­nment as the country's operating coal mines release 1,217 mt of CO2 into the atmosphere annually.