Struggling with Coal Challenges in India Due to Intense Heatwave Record

India, one of the world's most water-stressed countries, is currently grappling with a severe heatwave that has led to water shortages and triggered the worst power crisis in more than six years. The heatwave, a direct manifestation of climate change, according to experts, has been crippling the country since March 2022, breaking records set over the past 120 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2070 at COP26, but the current situation presents a significant challenge. Over 80% of India's energy needs are still met by fossil fuels, with coal providing more than 40% of its electricity supply. This reliance on fossil fuels is evident in the recent surge in coal production. In April 2022 alone, coal production rose by 29% compared to the same month last year, hitting nearly 52 million tonnes.

However, the government has eased green rules for coal mines to expand production by 10%, a move that could potentially undermine India's decarbonisation goals. The heatwave's extreme measures taken by the government to tackle the emergency situation will lead to an increase in emissions, threatening India's COP26 commitments.

Despite these challenges, India has made significant strides in renewable energy. It is now fourth globally for overall installed renewable energy capacity, which has grown by 286% in the last 7.5 years. India's investments in renewables have increased by 250% between 2014 and 2021 and are expected to hit USD$15 billion this year.

India's green transition plan includes a 50% increase in renewable energy and a total projected carbon emission reduction of one billion tonnes by 2030. The government is taking measures to improve weather forecasting to better manage electricity demand and integrate renewable energy sources, which helps reduce reliance on coal during heatwave crises. Efforts are also being made to address transmission delays and network inefficiencies to support the shift away from coal.

However, solutions to avoid an energy disaster in India mean sacrificing the progress made in terms of emissions reduction. The heatwave has contributed to an economic slowdown due to a loss of productivity and has caused health issues among vulnerable citizens, including heat boils, skin allergies, dehydration, and fever. As of May 2022, 25 people have succumbed to the heatwave.

Critical services such as hospitals are threatened by blackouts due to the power crisis. Millions of people are left without power for up to nine hours a day. The government has ordered coal-fired power plants to operate at full capacity and revived production from nearly 100 inoperative mines.

India is seeking help from importers to ensure more coal supplies, asking for approximately 19 million tons between April and June. However, it is crucial for industrialized nations to step up and scale up investments and financial support for India's transition to renewable energy.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) expects India to pay the highest price for the impacts of the climate crisis. The heatwave in India since March 2022 is a stark reminder of this reality. India should stick to its decarbonisation goals to avoid future supply shocks and move away from expensive production and importation of fossil fuels.