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India Eyes Post-2035 Coal Power Decisions Amid Clean Energy Push
7 Dec
Summary
- India targets 307 GW coal capacity by 2035, with future plans uncertain.
- Coal generation fell annually in seven months this year due to mild weather.
- Grid integration challenges impact clean energy use, curbing power output.
India's energy strategy includes a coal capacity target of 307 gigawatts by 2035, with top officials indicating that decisions regarding coal power beyond this horizon are premature. This planned capacity aligns with the country's energy requirements, even as India simultaneously aims to double its non-fossil fuel capacity to 500 GW by 2030. The country has experienced a notable decrease in coal-fired generation, which typically constitutes about 75% of its electricity output.
Annual coal generation has fallen in seven of the eleven months of the current year, a trend not seen since 2020. This reduction is primarily linked to temperate weather conditions that lowered the demand for cooling. Despite this, some Indian utilities are securing long-term contracts with coal power providers to address anticipated surges in evening electricity demand.
Furthermore, India is grappling with grid stability issues stemming from the integration of significant amounts of clean energy. This has led to power output curbs for much of the year. The government plans to assess energy demand growth and the pace of renewable energy integration over the next three years before making definitive choices about increasing coal capacity beyond 2035.
