Mains Previous Year Questions

Introduction

Coal continues to dominate India’s power sector, contributing around 70% of total electricity generation. Despite global decarbonization efforts, coal remains critical for India’s energy security due to its abundance, affordability, and role in meeting rising demand.

Body

Rationale for continuing with coal-based power plants:

·         Energy Security: India has the fourth-largest coal reserves in the world, ensuring reliable domestic availability.

·         Base-load Demand: Coal plants provide continuous electricity supply, unlike renewable sources which are intermittent.

·         Industrial Growth: Many core industries such as steel, cement, and fertilizers depend heavily on coal for power and heat.

·         Economic Considerations: Coal-based power is comparatively cheaper than large-scale renewable storage systems.

·         Infrastructure Lock-in: Existing thermal plants and railway coal transport systems create a sunk cost, making immediate phasing-out impractical.

·         Employment & Regional Economy: Coal mining and related industries provide livelihood to millions, especially in coal-belt states.

Measures to improve efficiency of coal plants:

·         Adoption of Supercritical & Ultra-Supercritical Technology: Higher efficiency and lower carbon emissions per unit of power.

·         Renovation & Modernization (R&M): Upgradation of old plants with modern boilers, turbines, and pollution-control devices.

·         Biomass Co-firing: Blending biomass pellets with coal to reduce carbon footprint.

·         Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS): To minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

·         Smart Operation Practices: Use of AI/IoT for predictive maintenance and load optimization.

·         Emission Controls: Installation of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) units and electrostatic precipitators.

·         Efficiency Benchmarking: Mandatory performance audits and retirement of sub-critical outdated plants.

Conclusion

While India must gradually shift towards renewables, coal will remain indispensable in the medium term for energy security and economic stability. Enhancing efficiency, adopting cleaner technologies, and integrating coal with green solutions will ensure a balanced energy transition.