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
More of Today's Solutions
Your allergies aren’t getting worse with age. The pollen season is.
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM If your spring allergies feel worse than they did five years ago, there is a reason for that, ...
Read MoreWhat governments and households are being asked to do in the oil crisis
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The International Energy Agency has already done something it has never done before: ordered the largest release of ...
Read MoreCooking tip: How to remove toxins from rice but keep the nutrients
Rice is nice, but the problem with this widely-consumed food is that it’s very high in arsenic compared to most other foods. In fact, ...
Read MoreFormerly homeless guides offer unique experiences of iconic cities
In cities across the world, the streets tell stories—stories of triumph over adversity, resilience, and transformation. Invisible Cities, a breakthrough organization, transforms these stories ...
Read More
