The details regarding the data on India’s coal-fired electricity output and emissions during each of the past five years are given below:
| Year | Electricity Generation from Coal (in Billion Units) | CO2 Emission (in Million Metric Tonnes) |
| 2018-19 | 987.68 | 897.28 |
| 2019-20 | 988.72 | 897.28 |
| 2020-21 | 959.72 | 867.92 |
| 2021-22 | 951.88 | 853.82 |
| 2022-23 | 1043.83 | 943.04 |
With the rapid expansion & growth of the Indian economy, the demand of electricity is also witnessing an unprecedented growth. The electricity demand in India has witnessed a growth of around 9% for the years 2021-22 and 2022-23. The total emissions have increased commensurate with the increase in generation of the electricity.
However, due to increasing share of Renewable Energy in the Grid, the carbon intensity of the grid is reducing. There is significant decrease of about 9% in average carbon emission factor of the grid electricity in India from 2013-14 to 2022-23.
For reduction of emission levels of Thermal Power Plants (TPPs), following measures have been taken by the Government:
- Installation of efficient Ultra Supercritical/Supercritical Units – Promotion of installation of efficient Ultra Supercritical/Supercritical units over Subcritical Thermal Units as these units are more efficient and their emission per unit of electricity generation is less than subcritical units. A total capacity of Supercritical/ Ultra-supercritical units of 65,290 MW (94 Units) and 4,240 MW (06 units) have been commissioned respectively till 30.06.2024.
- Biomass Co-firing – Ministry of Power has issued a policy on utilization of Biomass for Power generation through co-firing in coal-based power plants. The policy mandates 5-7% co-firing of Biomass primarily of agro residue with coal, after assessing the technical feasibility. As of June 2024, 8.14 lakh Tonnes of cumulative Biomass have been co-fired pan India resulting in reduction of about 0.97 Million Tonnes of CO2 emissions from Thermal Power Plants.
- Reduction of Stack Emissions – MoEF&CC vide notification dated 07.12.2015 and its subsequent amendments has notified norms in respect of reducing stack emissions such as Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), SOx& NOx from coal based Thermal Power Plants. To meet these standards, Thermal Power Plants are using techniques like Electro Static Precipitator (ESP), Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), NOx Combustion Modification etc.
- The inefficient and old thermal power plants having capacity of about 18,802.24 MW comprising 267 units have already been retired till 30.06.2024.
- NTPC Ltd. has commissioned a 20 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) capacity Pilot Carbon Capture Project at Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station.
India in its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) stands committed to achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. At present India has already achieved 45.5% Installed Capacity from non-fossil fuel-based resources.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Power, Shri Shripad Naik, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
