India, world’s third-largest emitter, adds coal power at near-record pace
Breanne Deppisch
India’s power generation has increased at the fastest pace in 33 years, thanks to a surge in coal-fired power generation as the country scrambles to avoid power cuts and keep the lights on.
India’s power generation increased by a whopping 11.5% in the 12 months during the fiscal year ending in March 2023, according to data from Reuters.
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The demand increase was partly due to harsh weather conditions, including protracted summer heatwaves and a colder-than-expected winter. The data showed that India’s total electricity output from coal also increased, making up more than 73% of the country’s total energy mix.
India is the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter and has made ambitious commitments to scale up renewables under the Paris climate agreement. Still, the data show that it isn’t expected to shift to coal anytime soon.
In the current fiscal year, which began April 1, its power plants are projected to burn about 8% more coal, according to estimates based on government data.
Increased fossil fuel burning also drove up total CO2 emissions by nearly a sixth, to 1.15 billion tons, Reuters reported.
The increase in coal-fired plants underscores India’s struggle to keep the lights on for residents while embracing more renewable energy sources in line with its international commitments.
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Last year, India committed to reducing the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels — a 10% increase from its original target set under the Paris climate agreement.
It also increased its renewable energy target by 10%, seeking to use renewable power sources to supply 50% of its total energy mix by 2030, compared to the 40% target it set in 2016.