| Introduction: Contextual Introduction Body: What are key factors in the UK transition from coal and lessons that India can learn? Conclusion: Way forward |
The shuttering of Britain’s last coal-fired power plant marks a significant milestone in the global energy transition. The UK’s journey, beginning with the Great Smog of 1952 and accelerating after its 2015 Paris pledge, offers several lessons for countries like India as they embark on their own energy transitions.
Key Factors in the UK’s Transition from Coal
- Environmental Legislation: The Great Smog of 1952 led to stringent environmental regulations, such as the Clean Air Act of 1956, setting the stage for reduced coal dependence. Decades of environmental awareness played a critical role in shifting away from coal.
- Natural Gas Discovery: The discovery of natural gas in the North Sea in 1965 provided an alternative energy source. This reduced coal imports, particularly from the Soviet Union, during the Cold War era, and helped the UK transition to cleaner energy sources.
- Economic Shifts: The decline in domestic coal reserves made coal mining uneconomical. Additionally, the Thatcher government’s closure of coal mines in the 1980s, while controversial, hastened the shift away from coal, albeit with significant socio-economic consequences in coal-reliant regions.
- Renewable Energy Investments: In the last two decades, the UK has made significant investments in renewable energy, particularly wind power. Offshore wind farms, especially near coal-producing regions, and repurposing infrastructure like the Drax coal plant for biomass energy, have mitigated the economic impact on former coal-dependent regions.
Lessons for India
- Phased Transition with Clear Timelines: While India has set a net-zero target for 2070, it must establish clear timelines for phasing out coal. India’s energy transition must be gradual but deliberate, with fixed timelines for plant decommissioning and increasing renewable energy capacity.
- Regional Redevelopment: India’s coal-dependent regions, such as Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, are some of the poorest in the country. Lessons from the UK’s experience highlighted the need for holistic regional development programs. India should prioritize economic diversification in these regions and encourage the establishment of new industries, especially renewable energy projects.
- Retraining and Employment Opportunities: India’s coal sector employs over a million people, directly and indirectly. Like the UK, India must focus on retraining coal sector workers in new energy industries, engineering, and heavy machinery operations, ensuring a just transition for its workforce. Providing education and apprenticeship programs in renewable energy technologies could help absorb displaced workers.
Conclusion:
India’s transition should be gradual, inclusive, and just, with a focus on retraining workers, developing alternative industries in coal-dependent regions, and establishing clear, transparent timelines for phasing out coal.
