India’s Energy Security: Coal Sector

Context

India’s coal import rose by 5.7 percent to 75.26 million tonnes (MT) in the first quarter of the current fiscal compared to in the same period of the previous fiscal.

About

• Coal Reserves: India has significant coal reserves, and it’s far one of the world’s biggest coal producers.
  • The fundamental coal fields in India are placed in the eastern states of Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal, as well as in imperative states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Coal Production: India is the second largest coal producing country globally.
  • The Coal India Limited (CIL) is the state-owned coal mining company and the largest government-owned-coal-manufacturer in the world. 
• Coal Consumption: The surge in coal manufacturing at some point of May 2024, accomplishing 83.91 million tonnes, represents a notable 10.15% increase from the previous year.
  • This surge highlights the sector’s capacity to fulfill escalating demands from power and production industries.
• Import and Export: Despite being a high coal producer, India has also been uploading coal to meet the increasing demand.
  • This is due to issues such as transportation challenges and the need for specific types of coal for certain industries.

Challenges

• Environmental Impact: The coal region faces significant environmental challenges, along with air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, and the impact of coal mining on local ecosystems and communities.
• Infrastructure: The area struggles with inadequate infrastructure for coal transportation, including railways and ports, leading to inefficiencies and supply chain issues.
• Regulatory and Policy Issues: The sector is subject to complex regulations and policies that affect its operation and growth.
  • There are ongoing efforts to reform and modernize the world, such as auctioning of coal blocks to private companies and efforts to enhance transparency.

Transition to Renewable Energy Sources

• • India is the world’s third biggest manufacturer of renewable energy, with 40% of its installed power ability coming from non-fossil gasoline sources. Coal still provides 55% of India’s energy supply.
  • Aim: India has introduced its intention to meet 50% of its energy needs from renewable energy resources by 2030.

• Challenges:

• • Dependency on Natural Factors: Energy assets like solar and wind are variable as they rely on natural elements like daylight, wind and water availability.
    • To ensure a steady supply, India has to heavily invest in battery storage.
  • Concerns in Hydropower Projects: Numerous hydropower initiatives are under construction or in the planning levels inside the Himalayan region.
    • But they’ve come under fire because the tasks have induced ecological harm and raised concerns about the capacity conflicts over water resources in the region. 
  • Nuclear Energy: The country’s plans to generate energy with the help of nuclear power plants have not really taken off.
    • During 2022-23, the plants produced about 2.8% of the whole energy generated in India.
  • Infrastructure Development: The transition to renewable energy calls for giant infrastructure development.
  • Grid Integration: Integrating renewable power into the present energy grid is a complex assignment.
    • The grid needs to be flexible and able to manage fluctuations in supply.

Steps Taken by using Government for Transition to Renewable Energy Sources

• National Solar Mission (NSM): It was launched in 2010, it has set ambitious objectives for solar ability installation, which includes grid-related and off-grid solar energy projects. 
• Green Energy Corridors: The Green Energy Corridor challenge focuses on improving the transmission infrastructure to facilitate the combination of renewable energy into the national grid. 
• Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO): This calls for energy distribution organizations and huge energy customers to procure a positive percent of their energy from renewable assets, encouraging the demand for renewable energy.
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM): It includes the installation of solar pumps, solarization of current grid-connected agricultural pumps, and the establishment of solar power plant on barren or fallow land.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA): India played a key function in establishing the International Solar Alliance, a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries to address their energy needs through the promotion of solar energy. 

Source: The Indian Express