Power crisis not one of capacity but delayed coal deliveries to generators

India's climate plans since November reveal slow progress towards meeting renewables target and an exponential expansion of thermal generation in the face of a power crisis

India’s jugalbandhi with coal and clean energy is coming unstuck, neither achieving adequate renewable generation nor ensuring sufficient coal-fired power in the quest to become a $5-trillion economy.

Six months have elapsed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ambitious climate agenda for India at COP26 at Glasgow. The net zero emissions target by 2070 is a distant one, but there are nearer-term plans to meet 50 per cent of energy demand with renewables by 2030 by increasing capacity to 450 Gw.

A cursory look at the balance sheet of India’s climate progress since November reveals ponderous progress towards meeting