Coal Power in India [UPSC Notes]

In recent years, the Government of India is working towards reducing dependence on coal for energy needs, which is visible through plans like developing an integrated Hydrogen economy, etc. In this article, you can read about India’s dependence on coal and the steps taken by the government to reduce this dependence and switch over to greener power sources. This topic is important for both the economy and the environment segments of the UPSC syllabus.

Coal Power in India

• India has a population of 1.3 billion and is rapidly urbanizing. 
• As the third-largest consumer of energy, it currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and solid biomass to meet 80% of its energy needs. 
• Coal is the dominant source, accounting for 56% of the total energy mix and being the preferred fuel for many industries such as iron and steel. 
• Although renewables and natural gas have only a small share in the energy mix, they are slowly gaining ground. 
• However, India is also the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter, with coal contributing 66% of its CO2 emissions.

Import dependence for coal:

• This dependence on coal has led to several issues, including import dependence, environmental degradation, and health hazards.
• India is the world’s second-largest coal importer, importing around 235 million tonnes of coal in 2020. 
• This import dependence not only makes the country vulnerable to fluctuations in international coal prices but also adds to the trade deficit. 

Other issues of a coal-powered economy:

• Coal-based power generation is also a major contributor to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 
• Coal combustion releases harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and mercury, which have adverse effects on human health and the environment. 
• Coal is also the largest contributor to India’s carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming and climate change.
• Coal power plants also face several operational issues, including high fuel costs, inefficient technologies, and high water consumption. 
• The transport of coal over long distances involves significant logistics costs, making coal-fired power generation more expensive.
• Many of India’s coal-fired power plants are inefficient, resulting in low plant load factors and high emissions. 
• The availability of water for coal power plants is also a major concern, as many of India’s coal power plants are located in water-stressed regions.

Government’s effort to reduce coal consumption

• Given these issues, India is looking to reduce its dependence on coal and shift towards cleaner sources of energy. 
• In order to achieve its goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 1 billion tonnes of emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, India must make significant changes to its energy mix. This includes reducing its reliance on coal by over 20% and increasing the share of renewables such as wind, solar, biofuels, and small hydro to 10% and natural gas to 15% by 2030.
• The government has set ambitious targets to increase the share of renewables, natural gas, and hydrogen in the country’s energy mix. 

Also read: National Hydrogen Energy Mission

Types of Coal

Coal is a sedimentary rock that is formed from the remains of ancient vegetation. It is classified based on its physical and chemical properties. The major coal types are:

• Anthracite: This is the highest rank of coal and is characterized by its high carbon content and low ash and moisture content. 
  • Anthracite is hard, shiny, and black, and is used primarily for heating purposes.
  • In India, anthracite coal deposits are found in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Bituminous: This is the most common type of coal, and is widely used in industries such as power generation, steel production, and cement manufacturing. 
  • Bituminous coal is characterized by its medium-to-high carbon content, and its relatively high sulfur content.
  • In India, bituminous coal deposits are found in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.
• Lignite: This is the lowest rank of coal, and is characterized by its low carbon content and high moisture content. 
  • Lignite is soft, brown, and crumbly, and is used primarily for power generation.
  • In India, lignite deposits are found in the states of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
• Sub-bituminous: This is coal with properties between those of bituminous and lignite coal. Sub-bituminous coal is characterized by its low-to-medium carbon content, and its relatively low sulfur content. 
  • In India, sub-bituminous coal deposits are found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra.

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