Heat wave sparks blackouts, questions on India’s coal usage
2 years, 7 months ago

Heat wave sparks blackouts, questions on India’s coal usage

Associated Press  

NEW DELHI — An unusually early and brutal heat wave is scorching parts of India, with acute power shortages affecting millions as demand for electricity surges to record levels. Government rules mandate that power plants maintain 24 days’ worth of coal stocks, but many routinely don’t, said Vibhuti Garg, an energy economist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. “And this becomes a kind of panic situation that they’ll start running out of coal pretty soon.” But the power outages are less the result of a dearth of coal than inadequate forecasts of demand and plans for transporting it in time, experts said. But the answer is not to open new mines or add more coal to India’s energy mix, because that will increase greenhouse gases that in turn will trap more heat, experts said.

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History of this topic

India’s coal imports rise to 90.5 MT amid surge in power demand
2 months, 4 weeks ago

India’s coal imports rise to 90.5 MT amid surge in power demand

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India's coal imports during the April-July period of the current fiscal increased 0.9% to reach 90.51 million tonnes compared with 89.68mt in same period last fiscal, the coal ministry said on Wednesday. "This decline underscores India’s steadfast commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in coal production and reducing reliance on imports," it said, adding that coal imports by the non-regulated …

India's coal imports rise to 90.5 MT amid surge in power demand
2 months, 4 weeks ago

India's coal imports rise to 90.5 MT amid surge in power demand

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India's coal imports during the April-July period of the current fiscal increased 0.9% to reach 90.51 million tonnes compared with 89.68mt in same period last fiscal, the coal ministry said on Wednesday. "This decline underscores India’s steadfast commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in coal production and reducing reliance on imports," it said, adding that coal imports by the non-regulated …

India urged to take ‘immediate action’ to tackle skyrocketing methane emissions from coal mines
3 months ago

India urged to take ‘immediate action’ to tackle skyrocketing methane emissions from coal mines

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A report by global energy think tank Ember released …

India has pushed hard for solar. But as its billions demand more power, coal always gets the call
4 months, 2 weeks ago

India has pushed hard for solar. But as its billions demand more power, coal always gets the call

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — India Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the midst of a monthslong reelection campaign this April when he took to social media to trumpet a “remarkable feat!” and a “historic milestone” for his country: crossing 1 billion metric tons of coal and lignite production. It was proof, Modi said, of India’s “commitment to ensuring a vibrant coal …

Coal to have significant place in India’s diversified energy basket: Eco Survey
5 months ago

Coal to have significant place in India’s diversified energy basket: Eco Survey

Hindustan Times  

India will target a diversified set of sources for energy security with a significant place for thermal power, including coal to provide base load, to minimise risks associated with systems while pursuing low-emission pathways in line with national commitments, said the 2023-24 Economic Survey Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled in Parliament on Monday. “This will also include a significant …

India asks utilities to order $33 billion in equipment this year to boost coal power output, sources say
5 months, 2 weeks ago

India asks utilities to order $33 billion in equipment this year to boost coal power output, sources say

Hindustan Times  

By Sarita Chaganti Singh India asks utilities to order $33 billion in equipment this year to boost coal power output, sources say NEW DELHI - India has asked power companies to order equipment worth $33 billion this year to fast track capacity additions of coal-fired power in the years ahead, as the South Asian nation struggles to meet booming electricity …

India's coal dependence for power to be highest in nine years as heatwaves intensify
6 months ago

India's coal dependence for power to be highest in nine years as heatwaves intensify

Hindustan Times  

India will use more coal for generating electricity this year than it has in almost a decade, to cope with surging electricity demand, Bloomberg reported. Representational The country expects to add 15.4 gigawatts in the financial year 2024-25, the most in nine years, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. Coal still generates about three-quarters of India’s electricity, and the …

Scorching heat drives India's gas-fired power use to multi-year highs in May
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Scorching heat drives India's gas-fired power use to multi-year highs in May

Hindustan Times  

By Sudarshan Varadhan and Sarita Chaganti Singh Scorching heat drives India's gas-fired power use to multi-year highs in May NEW DELHI - Sweltering heat and policy measures are fuelling a surge in the use of gas-fired power in India, with imports of liquefied natural gas forecast to rise sharply over the next two years, industry officials and experts say. An …

The future of coal in India: Decarbonising the oft-maligned resource
7 months, 1 week ago

The future of coal in India: Decarbonising the oft-maligned resource

Hindustan Times  

Coal is observed to be the single biggest contributor to anthropogenic climate change, with coal-based electricity being responsible for nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The situation in India is not far from the global reality, wherein coal, while indispensable to the country’s energy security, is responsible for 70% of all fuel-related CO2 emissions in the country. An important …

Understanding India’s coal imports
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Understanding India’s coal imports

The Hindu  

The spectre of electricity shortages rises again as hot weather descends across the country. A recent Ministry of Power advisory corroborates this, saying “supplies of domestic coal will remain constrained due to various logistical issues associated with railway network”. It is convenient, as some might say, for such advisories to be interpreted as mandates by many coal-based generators since the …

EV batteries get extra power from coal in new experiment
10 months, 3 weeks ago

EV batteries get extra power from coal in new experiment

The Hindu  

Coal can inject some extra life into chargeable batteries for electric vehicles without burning, a new study has found. An advanced model of a hybridized battery management system using coal-based pouch cell supercapacitors and Li-ion batteries in an experiment by a team of scientists helped increase the maximum speed of e-rickshaws to 45 km per hour with an additional power …

Coal power generation up 10.13% during April to December 2023
11 months ago

Coal power generation up 10.13% during April to December 2023

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The country’s coal-fired power generation showed significant growth of nearly 10.13% from April to December 2023 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. As per the coal ministry, the domestic coal-based power generation from April to December 2023 rose by 7.14% to 872 billion units, up from 813.9 BU generated in the corresponding period last year. …

Fired up and plugged in – Driving India’s energy security and decarbonisation this decade
11 months ago

Fired up and plugged in – Driving India’s energy security and decarbonisation this decade

The Hindu  

As India throttles to become the fastest-growing economy in the coming years, it will have to grow in the wake of a global agreement at COP-28 to phase down unabated coal. But to keep the economy powered while decarbonising, the country will have to use its existing assets better to cater to growing demand, while simultaneously limiting exposure to new …

India will continue to rely on coal power until it becomes developed country, says Bhupender Yadav
1 year ago

India will continue to rely on coal power until it becomes developed country, says Bhupender Yadav

The Hindu  

December 19, 2023 11:57 am | Updated 01:17 pm IST - New Delhi India is committed to meeting the energy needs of its people and will also have to rely on coal power until it achieves developed country status, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on December 19. Mr. Yadav said India “strongly resisted” the rich nations’ call for limitations …

Coal isn’t easy to exclude from sustainable development | Explained
1 year, 1 month ago

Coal isn’t easy to exclude from sustainable development | Explained

The Hindu  

The world is highly dependent on fossil fuels, which produce 80% of the total energy supplied. According to Central Electricity Authority projections for FY 2031-2032, India’s national grid can absorb 924 TWh of electricity from various renewable energy sources by progressively adding 47 GW of battery storage capacity and 27 GW of pumped storage projects by FY 32. To balance …

India’s Energy Endgame in an Era of Peak Fossil Fuels
1 year, 1 month ago

India’s Energy Endgame in an Era of Peak Fossil Fuels

The Quint  

Here, we would need to be time-wise granular, differentiating between short to medium and long terms, In the first phase, the global consumption of fossil energy sources may keep growing, albeit, at a slowing velocity and geopolitical risks may disrupt. In a decade, hopefully, these trends will settle down and fossil energy consumption may peak and start declining concomitantly bringing …

India boosts coal use to stop power outages as hydroelectricity output falls
1 year, 3 months ago

India boosts coal use to stop power outages as hydroelectricity output falls

Live Mint  

With an aim to stop outages caused by lower hydroelectricity output, India has stepped up the use of coal to generate electricity as an increase in renewables is struggling to keep pace with record power demand, according to Reuters reports. Hence, the driest August has resulted in power generation surging to a record 162.7 billion kilowatt hours, a Reuters analysis …

India succeeds in reducing emissions rate by 33% over 14 years: sources
1 year, 4 months ago

India succeeds in reducing emissions rate by 33% over 14 years: sources

The Hindu  

India's greenhouse emissions rate dropped by a faster-than-expected 33% in 14 years as renewable energy generation rose and forest cover increased, according to two officials privy to latest assessment made for submission to the United Nations. India's rate of emissions intensity - the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted for every unit increase of gross domestic product - fell …

India succeeds in reducing greenhouse emissions rate by 33% over 14 years: Report
1 year, 4 months ago

India succeeds in reducing greenhouse emissions rate by 33% over 14 years: Report

Hindustan Times  

India's greenhouse emissions rate dropped by a faster-than-expected 33% in 14 years as renewable energy generation rose and forest cover increased, according to two officials privy to latest assessment made for submission to the United Nations. The report's findings showed India well on the way to meeting a commitment to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, to reduce emissions …

Business Matters | Why is the rising cost of coal-fired power plants good news for India?
1 year, 7 months ago

Business Matters | Why is the rising cost of coal-fired power plants good news for India?

The Hindu  

Why is the rising cost of coal-fired power plants good news for India? It said that achieving net zero – which India aims to reach by 2070 – will require adjustments to how people live, work, and move around—and some of these changes will be costly. First, India expects to increase investments in coal-fired power plants to help power economic …

India Says 50 Lakh People Directly Dependent on Coal Mining; Will Press for 'Just Energy Transition' at G20
1 year, 7 months ago

India Says 50 Lakh People Directly Dependent on Coal Mining; Will Press for 'Just Energy Transition' at G20

News 18  

India will press for a ”just energy transition” at the G-20 parleys, a top government official said on Monday, pointing out that 50 lakh people are directly dependent on coal mining. ”As per our estimation, about 50 lakh people are engaged directly or indirectly in coal mining activities, especially in eastern Indian states. The country needs coal to help achieve …

'Harnessing 10% of coal bed methane reserves can cut India's energy import bill by USD 2 billion'
1 year, 7 months ago

'Harnessing 10% of coal bed methane reserves can cut India's energy import bill by USD 2 billion'

Firstpost  

If India harnesses 10 per cent of the coal bed methane reserves of 2,600 billion cubic meters, it can cut its energy imports bill by USD 2 billion, according to experts. As per the experts, the industry’s collective efforts in utilising Coal Bed Methane can help the country save over USD 2 billion on imports bill in near future. Therefore, …

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out
1 year, 8 months ago

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out

The Hindu  

For the second year in a row, India’s government has ordered the nation’s coal-fired power plants to run at full power. India “has to ensure there is energy security as this is critical for the country’s development and growth,” said Alok Kumar, the most senior official in India’s federal power ministry. “There is a strong political incentive to ensure regular …

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out
1 year, 8 months ago

As summer looms, India orders coal power plants to max out

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — For the second year in a row, India’s government has ordered the nation’s coal-fired power plants to run at full power. India “has to ensure there is energy security as this is critical for the country’s development and growth,” said Alok Kumar, the most senior official in India’s federal power ministry. “There is a strong political incentive …

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says
1 year, 9 months ago

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — If India stopped burning coal tomorrow, over five million people would lose their jobs. But for a price tag of around $900 billion over the next 30 years, the country can make sure nobody is left behind in the huge move to clean energy to curb human-caused climate change, according to figures released by New Delhi-based think …

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says
1 year, 9 months ago

Cost of India quitting coal is $900 billion, think tank says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But for a price tag …

Mining companies can catalyse energy transition
1 year, 9 months ago

Mining companies can catalyse energy transition

Hindustan Times  

Mining and metals are a non-negotiable element in the energy transition. This is a now a consensus view among experts, policy makers and business leaders on the topic at the recently concluded World Economic Forum conference at Davos, who are adding their voice to the recent comprehensive reports issued by respected agencies such as the World Bank, the International Energy …

Analysis | India cheers the return of 'King Coal' as industry sees buoyant future
1 year, 9 months ago

Analysis | India cheers the return of 'King Coal' as industry sees buoyant future

The Hindu  

India's coal industry celebrated the return of its major conference after a three-year pandemic hiatus by presenting a bullish view of demand, rising supply from new mines and strong demand for imports. Increased output The reality is that India has successfully increased domestic coal output, with official government figures released last week showing production in the first 10 months of …

India wants energy transition on its own terms — without phasing out coal and with more grants
1 year, 9 months ago

India wants energy transition on its own terms — without phasing out coal and with more grants

The Hindu  

India is unlikely to sign a deal with richer nations this year for a just energy transition, as international funding rests on India committing to a timeline to phase out coal, an "unviable" proposition for the country, energy analysts said. "The JETP as it currently stands may not be the best model or framework for India given that the country …

Science-Wise: Reducing Emissions Through Coal Not Oil, Gas Phase-Out Plays Down Onus on Rich Nations
1 year, 10 months ago

Science-Wise: Reducing Emissions Through Coal Not Oil, Gas Phase-Out Plays Down Onus on Rich Nations

News 18  

Phase-out of coal-fired power is important, not just for climate, but for the health of millions of people who suffer from its far-reaching consequences. According to the research published in the peer-reviewed science journal Nature Climate Change, the IPCC 1.5℃ pathways have played down the responsibility of rich nations in reducing CO2 emissions, by laying more emphasis on coal, than …

India’s just energy transition is more than a coal story
1 year, 10 months ago

India’s just energy transition is more than a coal story

The Hindu  

Just Energy Transition Partnership is emerging as the key mechanism for multilateral financing by developed countries to support an energy transition in developing countries. Transitions affect near-term fossil-dependent jobs, disrupt forms of future energy access, shrink state’s capacity to spend on welfare programmes, and thus exacerbate existing economic inequities between coal and other regions. The emphasis by developed countries’ on …

Solar energy is not the best option for India
1 year, 10 months ago

Solar energy is not the best option for India

The Hindu  

The Hindu’s editorial, Energy conundrum, expressing caution about the country’s bubbling enthusiasm in the climate change agenda by going the whole hog on solar energy is timely but spartan, and needs amplification. Apart from the external pressure that is pushing India more and more into the so-called carbon limiting renewable energy path, the Prime Minister’s own enthusiasm and support and …

India to boost coal imports this year to cope with harsh weather, freight snags: Report
1 year, 11 months ago

India to boost coal imports this year to cope with harsh weather, freight snags: Report

Hindustan Times  

India's power utilities will likely boost coal imports this year to cope with surges in demand, made worse over the past year by extreme temperatures, and with freight bottlenecks that are disrupting domestic coal supplies, analysts and officials said. Coal imports by Indian utilities more than doubled to 42 million tonnes during the first eight months of this fiscal year …

India expects utilities' annual coal demand to surge about 8% after renewables shortfall
1 year, 11 months ago

India expects utilities' annual coal demand to surge about 8% after renewables shortfall

The Hindu  

India expects its power plants to burn about 8% more coal in the fiscal year ending March 2024, according to a senior government official and a Power Ministry presentation, after the country missed its 2022 renewable-energy goal by more than 30%. India expects utilities' coal demand to reach 821 million tonnes in 2023-24, according to the presentation. India is expected …

India asks utilities to import 6% of their coal for nine months
1 year, 11 months ago

India asks utilities to import 6% of their coal for nine months

Live Mint  

India's power ministry has asked utilities to import 6% of their coal requirement until September, according to a letter seen by Reuters, warning that domestic supplies could be curtailed if import targets are not met. Estimated domestic coal supply of 392 million tonnes during the six months to the end of September is expected to fall short of demand by …

Promoting efficiency in power generation in India
2 years ago

Promoting efficiency in power generation in India

Hindustan Times  

India is experiencing a surge in power demand owing to an expanding economy. In the short term, however, focus should be on making coal-based plants work efficiently; power plants working on imported coal in India are crucial in this regard. This brief analyses the problems hindering the optimum operation of power plants working on imported coal. The continuous increase in …

India’s power units binge on coal, outpace Asia
2 years, 1 month ago

India’s power units binge on coal, outpace Asia

The Hindu  

India's coal-fired power output has increased much faster than any other country in the Asia Pacific since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the challenges the world's third-largest greenhouse gas emitter faces in weaning its economy off of carbon. India's coal-fired power output increased more than 10% year-on-year from March to October to 757.82 terawatt hours, an analysis of government data …

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr | No easy ‘green’ solutions for coal-carbon dilemma
2 years, 1 month ago

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr | No easy ‘green’ solutions for coal-carbon dilemma

Deccan Chronicle  

India’s carbon emissions in 2022 are six per cent compared to the United States’ 1.5 per cent, according to the Global Carbon Budget, released at COP27, the climate conference now underway at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. US treasury secretary Janet Yellen had announced during her recent visit to New Delhi last week a $500 million solar facility in Tamil Nadu …

India’s coal mines are severely under-utilised amid push for new ones: Report
2 years, 2 months ago

India’s coal mines are severely under-utilised amid push for new ones: Report

The Hindu  

On average, India’s coal mines use only two-thirds of the capacity with some large ones using only 1%, says an analysis by Global Energy Monitor, a firm that tracks utilisation of the fuel-source internationally. This suggests that 99 of India’s coal mine projects, expected to yield 427 MTPA, under development are unnecessary and opening new coal mines wouldn’t contribute to …

India’s energy future is looking green, report says
2 years, 2 months ago

India’s energy future is looking green, report says

Associated Press  

BENGALURU, India — India’s renewables sector is booming, with the country projected to add 35 to 40 gigawatts of renewable energy annually until 2030, enough to power up to 30 million more homes each year, a report said Thursday. The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and Climate Energy Finance estimated that India, the third largest energy-consuming country in …

Supply constraints dented coal-biomass mixing, says Union Power Minister
2 years, 2 months ago

Supply constraints dented coal-biomass mixing, says Union Power Minister

The Hindu  

India’s thermal power plant operators were unable to comply with norms that required them to mix coal with a certain proportion of biomass because of inadequate supply chains, said Union Power Minister R.K. Singh on Thursday. The end product is called ‘bio-coal.’ As The Hindu had reported, in 2020-21, only eight power plants had co-fired biomass pellets, and this number …

India lags in biomass co-firing targets
2 years, 2 months ago

India lags in biomass co-firing targets

The Hindu  

India has been severely lagging in ensuring that at least 5% of coal used in thermal plants was mixed with biomass despite guidelines mandating them to do so. The meeting to review progress of biomass co-firing in thermal power plants was held in New Delhi to prepare for the coming post-monsoon season that saw farm fires in north India and …

Decarbonising Odisha’s Largest Coalfield Reserve In Angul Is A Herculean Task
2 years, 3 months ago

Decarbonising Odisha’s Largest Coalfield Reserve In Angul Is A Herculean Task

The Quint  

A New Delhi-based think tank– iForest recently conducted a survey on the just transition challenge in Angul. ‘Just Transition’ refers to energy transition in any area from fossil fuel-based energy like coal to clean energy, by ensuring justice to the communities involved in livelihoods that produce polluting sources of energy. The study that followed the survey stated that the coal …

India’s Energy-Environment Catch-22
2 years, 5 months ago

India’s Energy-Environment Catch-22

The Diplomat  

Rani, a domestic worker in New Delhi, travels 10-15 kilometers every day from her cramped urban slum in Goyla Dairy, Najafgarh, to high rise buildings in Dwarka. While India plans to reach carbon neutral status by 2070, extreme weather events like the recent heatwaves keep pushing India’s energy sector to depend on traditional coal in the absence of enough renewable …

India to import 76 mt coal; will spark power tariff hike
2 years, 5 months ago

India to import 76 mt coal; will spark power tariff hike

Live Mint  

India has firmed up a plan to import around 76 million tonnes of coal to help plug a fossil fuel shortfall at its power plants in the current financial year. With the monsoon expected to affect India’s coal production and supplies to power plants in August and September, state-run Coal India Ltd will import 15 mt to supply to power …

Data | Coal demand-supply mismatch, rising prices and mounting debts plague thermal power generators
2 years, 6 months ago

Data | Coal demand-supply mismatch, rising prices and mounting debts plague thermal power generators

The Hindu  

On June 10, India’s power demand touched a record high of 211 GW even as the coal shortage continued with coal stocks available only for eight days. As chart 2 shows, the coal imported by power plants declined to 27 MT in FY22 from 66.06 MT in FY17. Perennial bottlenecks The use of imported coal will also push up the …

India's power demand touches new high after jumping by 45,000 megawatt in a year
2 years, 6 months ago

India's power demand touches new high after jumping by 45,000 megawatt in a year

India TV News  

Highlights India's electricity demand on June 9 was recorded at an all-time high of 2,10,792 megawatts RK Singh said 1000s of villages that hadn't seen electricity in 70 yrs were provided connectivity The current coal shortage in India is a result of domestic production not keeping pace with demand Power demand of India : India's power demand in the year …

India's coal import declines to 209 MT in 2021-22 as domestic output jumps
2 years, 6 months ago

India's coal import declines to 209 MT in 2021-22 as domestic output jumps

Firstpost  

Coal imports, which had reached a peak of 248 MT in 2019-20, declined continuously during the next two years to 215 MT in 2020-21 and further to 209 MT in 2021-22 New Delhi: India’s coal import declined to 209 million tonnes in the financial year ended March 2022 as against 248 MT recorded in 2019-20, as per the government data …

Record renewable energy output helps India ease coal shortage in May
2 years, 6 months ago

Record renewable energy output helps India ease coal shortage in May

Live Mint  

Record green energy output reduced Indian dependence on coal in May, despite 23.5% growth in power demand, contributing to a rise in utilities' coal inventories, a Reuters analysis of government data showed. Surging supply from renewables will go some way towards mitigating India's coal shortage amid extraordinarily rapid growth in demand, which has forced the country to reopen mines and …

Record renewables output helps India ease coal shortage in May
2 years, 6 months ago

Record renewables output helps India ease coal shortage in May

The Hindu  

Record green energy output reduced Indian dependence on coal in May, despite a 23.5% growth in power demand, contributing to a rise in utilities' coal inventories, a Reuters analysis of government data showed. Surging supply from renewables will go some way towards mitigating India's coal shortage amid extraordinarily rapid growth in demand, which has forced the country to reopen mines …

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