Aiming for net zero carbon by promoting renewables

Clean energy projects of around 4.5 gigawatts at a cost of about $3 billion will be set up by India’s Coal India.

- 

The organization has been diversifying beyond the polluting fuel, which is still key for the country’s power needs, as a part of the wider national aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070, according to a Reuters report.

Coal India is, therefore, scaling clean energy alongside India's 80 GW coal capacity expansion, amid growing power demand.

As the Indian Ministry of Coal's website report states, in order minimize the carbon footprints of mining and to progress towards the goal of net zero carbon emission, coal/lignite companies are keen on promoting renewables. Coal companies are going for both roof top solar and ground mounted solar projects. It has also been envisaged to develop solar parks in some of the reclaimed mining areas. By late 2023, coal/lignite PSUs had installed solar capacity of about 1656 MW and windmills of 51 MW. India has plans to install 5570 MW of renewable capacity by 2030.

Coal India, a fossil fuel producer has aligned itself and is committed to become a net zero energy company and is in the process of implementing 3 GW solar power program by 2025-26. A total of 398.8 MW capacity was aimed at in FY2024, 1443 MW in FY2025 and 1158 MW in FY2026.