Balancing Sustainable Energy Goals with Coal Realities | 27 Nov 2023

Source: TH

Why in News?

In the evolving landscape of renewable energy, the clash between traditional and eco-friendly practices is evident.

• Coal, a widely used yet highly polluting energy source, stands as a major hurdle for global sustainability goals.
• Despite efforts to embrace cleaner alternatives, coal remains a significant challenge for achieving sustainable development worldwide.

What is the Role of Coal in the Energy Mix?

• Coal in Global Global Energy Mix:
  • In 2022, oil, coal, and gas accounted for 30%, 27%, and 23% of the world’s total energy, while solar and wind energy sources together contributed only 2.4%.
    • Coal supplies just over a third of global electricity generation even though it is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel.
• Coal in India’s Energy Context:
  • Only 10.4% of India's primary energy consumption is from renewables; coal and oil gas dominate at 55.1% and 33.3% in 2022.
  • Coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs) generated 74.3% of India's electricity during FY 2022-2023, and generation by TPPs continues to grow to meet demand.
    • 96% of the coal used by TPPs in India comes from domestic mines and is key to why electricity is so affordable in India.
    • India's National Electricity Plan projects that TPP capacity in India will reach 259-262 GW by FY32, from 212 GW in FY23.
  • India's per capita energy supply stands at 37% of the global average, highlighting a growing energy demand that aligns with the Human Development Index.
    • To balance this with India's long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2070, the country must continue to implement clean coal technologies to reduce the power sector's emissions.
  • The efficient operation of TPPs (thermal power plants) is crucial for India to ensure continuous and affordable supply to meet peak and off-peak demands.
  • India’s cumulative emissions from fossil fuels and industry between the start of the industrial revolution in 1750 and the end of 2021 are only 3.3% of the global total, far behind those of Europe (31%), the U.S. (24.3%), and China (14.4%).

What are the Environmental and Social Impacts of Coal?

• Coal Quality and Transportation:
  • Indian coal contains high levels of fly ash compared to coal from other major coal-mining countries.
  • Burning coal with more ash leads to erosion and failure of boiler tubes, affecting plant availability, efficiency, and performance leading to an increase in emissions.
  • Transporting unwashed raw coal to power plants located over 500 km away congests transportation systems and results in carbon dioxide emissions and environmental pollution.
• Sulphur Dioxide Emissions:
  • Indian coal other than that from Assam and Meghalaya has lower sulphur content compared to coal used in Chinese power plants.
    • Tall stacks and favourable weather conditions in India allow sulphur dioxide emissions to disperse far and wide.
  • According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, historical sulphur dioxide emissions have created a cooling effect, masking global temperature rise.
• Flue Gas Desulphurisers (FGDs):
  • Retrofitting existing power plants with FGDs increases specific coal consumption, lowers energy efficiency, and leads to higher emission intensity and temporary plant shutdowns.
    • FGD is a process that removes sulfur dioxide (SO2) from exhaust gases.
  • Retrofitting FGDs has been delayed in India due to the inability to shut down operating power plants.
• Employment and Industry:
  • The coal sector plays a vital role in industries like power, steel, cement, and aluminium, employing millions.
    • Transition to cleaner energy could result in an imbalance in the preservation of jobs and economic stability.
• Energy Access and Affordability:
  • Coal contributes significantly to electricity generation, ensuring access and affordability for a large population.
    • Transitioning to renewables must consider maintaining affordable and reliable energy access.

What are the Strategies to Reduce Coal's Impact on Sustainable Development?

• Efficiency Enhancement in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs):
  • Invest in research and development to increase the efficiency of existing coal-fired TPPs.
  • Implement advanced technologies and operational improvements to reduce emissions per unit of electricity generated.
• Promotion of Clean Coal Technologies:
  • Allocate resources and incentives for the development and implementation of clean coal technologies.
    • Prioritize technologies that significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve overall environmental performance.
• Diversification of Energy Sources:
  • Accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to decrease dependence on coal.
    • Develop policies that encourage a diverse energy mix, ensuring a gradual transition towards cleaner alternatives.
• Global Cooperation for Critical Minerals:
  • Collaborate with international partners to secure a stable and diversified supply chain for critical minerals required for battery storage.
    • Most of the critical materials required for grid-scale battery storage are controlled by the top three producers – especially China.
  • Explore diplomatic avenues to mitigate risks associated with import dependencies on countries like China.
  • Batteries might only become cost-effective after 2030, necessitating a focus on other strategies in the interim.
• Nuclear Energy Expansion:
  • Increase investment and support for nuclear energy as a low-carbon alternative to coal.
    • Encourage research and development for small modular nuclear reactors for enhanced efficiency and safety.
• Pumped Storage Projects and Grid Integration:
  • Enhance pumped storage projects to efficiently integrate intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the power grid.
  • Develop smart grid technologies for better management of variable energy inputs.
• Washed Coal Mandate:
  • Enforce regulations mandating the use of washed coal in TPPs located more than 500 km from mines to reduce environmental impact.
  • Integrate coal-washing charges into the tariff determination process to ensure economic feasibility.
    • This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and environmental pollution.
• Incentivizing Low-Carbon Technologies:
  • Approximately 30% of current power plant capacity in India is based on supercritical or ultra-supercritical technologies.
    • Advanced ultra-supercritical technology (AUSC) reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 15% compared to supercritical technology.
    • Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants have efficiencies of 46-48% and can capture carbon dioxide.
  • Incentivize projects to prove IGCC or AUSC technologies at scale before 2030.
  • Encourage NTPC to repurpose some power plant sites for small modular nuclear reactors for zero-carbon electricity generation.
  • Low-carbon development is not a choice but a necessity for India, as reflected in its 'Long-term Low-Emissions Development Strategy' submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Paris Agreement.
  • Encourage research initiatives to explore and develop carbon capture technologies for existing TPPs.
  • Transitioning to renewables must consider maintaining affordable and reliable energy access.
• Particulate Emission Reduction:
  • Implement a 'graded priority' approach for power plant pollutants, prioritizing the reduction of particulate matter.
    • Deploy cost-effective electrostatic precipitators to achieve a 99.97% reduction in particulate emissions.