India turns to coal amid rising electricity demand

India is increasing its coal usage to meet soaring electricity demands, despite its efforts to expand renewable energy.

Sibi Arasu reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• As demand for electricity rises, India relies heavily on coal, with over 70% of its electricity still generated from coal-fired plants.
• India has increased renewable energy capacity but lacks sufficient battery storage to replace coal during peak demand periods, particularly at night.
• The government's focus on coal is also driven by economic factors, including millions of jobs tied to the coal industry and its related sectors.

Key quote:

"We know the Indian government is serious about its climate commitments. We don’t believe that India will be a front runner in the coal transition."

— Carlos Fernández Alvarez, International Energy Agency

Why this matters:

India's reliance on coal challenges global climate goals, as its energy demands continue to grow rapidly. The situation underscores the difficulty of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy in developing nations with large populations and growing economies.

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