India turns to coal amid rising electricity demand
07 Aug 2024
India is increasing its coal
usage to meet soaring electricity demands, despite its efforts to expand
renewable energy.
- As demand for electricity rises, India
relies heavily on coal, with over 70% of its electricity still generated
from coal-fired plants.
- India
has increased renewable energy capacity but lacks sufficient battery
storage to replace coal during peak demand periods, particularly at night.
- The
government's focus on coal is also driven by economic factors, including
millions of jobs tied to the coal industry and its related sectors.
"We know the Indian
government is serious about its climate commitments. We don’t believe that
India will be a front runner in the coal transition."
India's
reliance on coal challenges global climate goals, as its energy demands
continue to grow rapidly. The situation underscores the difficulty of
transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy in developing nations with
large populations and growing economies.