India is a rapidly urbanizing country with a population of 1.3 billion. As the third-largest consumer of energy in the world, India 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.
Import Dependence for Coal
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.
Issues of a Coal-Powered Economy
Coal-based power generation is 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. 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 Efforts 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. For instance, it is developing an integrated Hydrogen economy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The National Hydrogen Energy Mission is one such step towards this goal.
Types of Coal in India
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 in India are:
- Anthracite: This is the highest rank of coal and is characterized by its high carbon content and low ash and moisture content. 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. 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.
Why In News
Modified sentence: In recent years, the Government of India has taken significant steps to reduce its dependence on coal for energy needs, such as developing an integrated Hydrogen economy, and increasing the share of renewables, natural gas, and hydrogen in the country’s energy mix, 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. In this article, you can read about India’s dependence on coal and the government’s efforts to transition to cleaner sources of energy.
MCQs about India’s Dependence on Coal and Government Efforts to Shift towards Clean Energy
- What is the dominant source of energy in India? A. Coal B. Natural gas C. Solar D. Wind
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What is the reason why India is looking to reduce its dependence on coal?
A. It is expensive
B. It is inefficient
C. It contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
D. It is difficult to transport
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What is the government’s goal for reducing its reliance on coal by 2030?
A. Over 50%
B. Over 30%
C. Over 20%
D. Over 10%
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Which state in India has lignite coal deposits?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Jharkhand
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Madhya Pradesh
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