Coal is increasingly falling out of favor as a potential energy source in India. Despite being the world’s second-largest producer and importer, the fossil fuel is becoming less attractive to potential investors because it’s too expensive relative to renewable energy alternatives such as wind and solar power. In recent months, power supply auctions have shown that renewables can be offered at less than 3 rupees (4 cents) per kilowatt hour, a tariff that coal-fired generators have difficulty matching. On top of that, there is zero chance that new coal generators can produce electricity at rates competitive to renewables, given higher capital and operating costs. The increasing trend of choosing greener alternatives like wind and solar over coal shows that there is still potential to decarbonize our electricity system fast enough to meet the IPCC’s targets.
Coal is giving way to renewables in India’s energy future
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