{"id":125333,"date":"2021-08-11T18:40:28","date_gmt":"2021-08-11T13:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=125333"},"modified":"2021-08-12T11:59:58","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T06:29:58","slug":"revisit-the-idea-of-aging-out-indias-coal-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/revisit-the-idea-of-aging-out-indias-coal-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"Revisit the idea of \u2018aging out\u2019 India\u2019s coal plants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source<\/b>: The Hindu<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Synopsis<\/b>:<\/span><\/h5>\n

It is right to let old coal capacity fade away in due course, but age shouldn\u2019t be used as the sole criteria for it. The focus should be on doing detailed analysis and weeding out the needless capacity in the pipeline, to derive long-term economic and environmental benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Background<\/b>:<\/span><\/h5>\n

The government is showing a willingness to retire old coal-based plants (25 years or more) as testified in the recent budget speech by the finance minister.\u00a0<\/span>However, some experts believe that the government should revisit the idea of aging out old coal plants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why should the old coal plants retire<\/b>?<\/span><\/h5>\n

Firstly, there is the availability of under-utilized newer and presumably more efficient coal-based capacity. Hence, shutting down older inefficient plants would lead to <\/span>improved efficiencies, reduced coal usage, and cost savings<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Secondly, they are <\/span>major contributors to carbon emissions<\/b>. Their closure will aid in achieving India\u2019s Nationally Determined Contributions, as per the Paris Agreement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Third, it would be <\/span>uneconomical for old plants<\/b> to install pollution control equipment required to meet the emission standards announced by the Environment Ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n