New Delhi/IBNS: The demand for coal is continuing and likely to peak between 2030-2035 being an affordable source of energy with substantial reserve, coal is going to stay as a major source of energy in the foreseeable future, Union minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday.
In 2022-23 (April, 22 to October, 22), the coal consumption in coal-based power plants has increased to 447.6 Million Tonnes (MT) as compared to 398.2 MT during the same period of last year with a growth of 12 %, the Minister of Coal said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
The country will require the base load capacity of coal-based generation for stability and also for energy security.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy plans to achieve about 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.
So far, a total of 172.72 GW of capacity from non-fossil fuel sources has been installed in the country as of 31.10.2022.
This includes 119.09 GW RE (includes Solar 61.63 GW, Wind 41.84 GW, SHP 4.92 GW and Bio-Power 10.70 GW), 46.85 GW Large Hydro and 6.78 GW Nuclear Power capacity.
