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Galilee coal can provide for 82m Indians: Institute of Public Affairs

Increasing the supply of Australian coal to India could allow at least 82 million Indian people each year to access a regular and reliable source of electricity, according to a new report from free market think-tank the Institute of Public Affairs.

Brett Hogan, director of energy and innovation policy at the Institute of Public Affairs and the author of the report, uses the report's findings to argue that expanding our coal exports will improve the lives of millions of Indians.

Mr Hogan said at least 300 million people in the country still had no access to electricity.

"New research from the IPA released today demonstrates how increasing Australian coal exports from the Galilee Basin by up to 120 million tonnes annually could allow at least 82 million Indian people to access a regular and reliable source of electricity each year," he said.

The findings come despite suggestions from the International Energy Agency that in circumstances such as India and Africa where there is a lack of electricity grid infrastructure, a combination of 'distributed' solar and battery storage may provide a cheaper and faster route to supplying electricity.

On the issue of centralised - or grid - renewable power, Mr Hogan said: "While solar and wind power may very well have a place in future world energy supply, not even the most earnest activist can change the laws of physics and force solar power to work at night or in cloudy weather, wind power to work in calm conditions, or hydroelectric power to work in times of drought or in areas without large rivers or mountains," he said.

This finding comes despite increasing confidence from some analysts that high levels of variable renewables can be integrated into grids when backed with flexible generation from hydro, gas and biomass, or potentially battery power.

source: http://www.businessspectator.com.au