It is nearly three months since 195 global heads of state congregated for the UN Climate talks in Paris and agreed on the first ever universal, legally binding, global climate deal. The Indian government and its delegation played a key role in shaping the agreement, recognition that the country has not only become the new driver of world energy demand, but also policy.
Meanwhile as the dust settles on Paris — the official ratification of the agreement takes place next month — countries are now being tasked with implementing the agreement. For India, the challenge of implementation, like many other developing economies, is ensuring that it stays true to the Paris accord and of course its own climate plan (NDC) submitted in the lead-up to the conference.
India’s government, led by Prime Minister Modi, is rightly evaluating all options — nothing is off the table — with policymakers striving to achieve an optimal energy mix that ensures the country achieves the ambitious and, at times, seemingly conflicting goals.
Renewables clearly are essential in the post-Paris energy landscape. Solar, in particular, will have an important role in reducing emissions and will attract a lot of international attention and support. But renewables on their own are not the answer to India’s vexing energy dichotomy. As the world’s third largest coal producer, the development of modern coal technology will be critical if the Indian government is to provide enough affordable electricity to address the needs of more than 300 million people that do not currently have access to this basic human need.
Placing high efficiency, low emissions coal (HELE) technology at the heart of India’s energy policy will ensure significant CO2 and non-CO2 emission reductions, while generating the critical, stable electricity supply the country needs to meet its ambitions for the future. The environmental benefits of deploying cleaner coal technologies in India will be significant, with research showing that by migrating India’s capacity mix from reliance on sub-critical infrastructure, which is currently the case, to ultra-supercritical, 73 billion tonnes of carbon emissions could be eliminated over 40 years — the CO2 abated equivalent of 65,000 wind turbines or the removal of 500 million cars from India’s roads.
Of course, we recognise that making this transition, while desirable, is no easy task. Implementing the Paris commitments India made to high efficiency, low emissions coal technology requires financial support. The World Coal Association is therefore committed to stimulating an environment of innovation underpinned by the necessary finance from development banks, climate finance initiatives and other sources.
As India seeks to grow in an increasingly sustainable manner, while developing socio-economic infrastructures, it is critical that the international community does not close its ears to the important role coal will play in the country’s future. The international community has a duty to work with India to make sure it uses its abundant coal reserves as efficiently and effectively as possible. Later this year the World Coal Association plans to host its board meeting in India, underpinning how important the country is for all of us and the role it plays in leading the global energy debate.
We are therefore working with key stakeholders, both in the country and internationally, attempting to make widespread adoption and implementation of modern coal technologies a reality.
The author is Chief Executive Officer of the World Coal Association
http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-use-of-clean-coal-technology-to-sustain-development-2188528