Flexible and dynamic may not be words that you naturally associate with coal. However, when it comes to providing a reliable baseload power supply or combining intermittent power sources, it is a vital tool for quick monitoring of renewable grids.
Take India, for example. Energy from renewable sources , primarily solar, increased by 27 per cent from 2017 to 2018, accounting for around 30 per cent of the country 's total demand for energy. Beyond that, India has already well exceeded its initial government target of installing 20GW of solar capacity by 2022.
Although innovation continues to change the energy landscape, the unreliable power supply from renewable sources – the fact that there are periods when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine – means that grids do require baseload electricity, which is mostly supplied by coal.
Increased demand
The rise in energy demand in India is rather remarkable. Its economy is projected to continue to grow at an average annual rate of 6.5 per cent by 2040 and, as a result , energy demand is projected to triple over that period.
Renewables can not fulfill these needs on their own. That is why 40 GW of coal-fired capacity is currently under construction. Additional capacity additions are planned to meet increasing demand, including peak loads, and to ensure reliability with more dispatchable capacity.
The Indian Government has also recently announced its intention to increase national coal capacity from 194.44 to 238 GW by 2027.
Coal in Indian Energy Production
Growing production supported by the 'Make in India' programme, widespread use of cooling systems and increased energy access – 180 million Indians are expected to gain access to electricity by 2040 – will help shape the ever-changing story in the coming years.
However, there is no question that coal is the dominant source of electricity in India – it accounted for 74% of supply in 2018 and will still account for almost half of electricity generation in 2040.
Despite a surge in renewables, both electricity demand and coal generation in India are expected to grow significantly over the next 25 years.
Action on Emissions
Coal-fired power plants will be part of India 's flexibility picture, responding to system needs and complementing renewables, and technologies exist to make them environmentally compatible.
Through the 12th Five-Year Plan of the Government, India is seeking to upgrade its coal fleet and withdraw the most inefficient coal-fired power stations. The first advanced ultra-super-critical (AUSC) plant, located at the Sipat coal-fired power station in the state of Chhattisgarh, is to be developed with an efficiency of 46%.
India is also home to an unsubsidized, fully commercial carbon capture, use and storage facility (CCUS) developed by Carbon Clean Solutions, which has been operating in the port of Tuticorin since 2015.
In India, as with many other emerging economies, the role of coal is a fuel for change. In contrast to public perception, innovation has provided a range of solutions to efficiency and environmental issues. The 1 per cent increase in LHV efficiency in coal-fired power plants can lead to a 2-3 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, while CCUS is technically capable of capturing up to 100 per cent of emissions.
By using clean coal technologies for competitive and flexible power generation over the coming decades, modern coal plants can support the achievement of both economic priorities and long-term climate targets.
