Coal crunch gives impetus to India's solar switch

[jpak]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Feb/27/coal-crunch-gives-impetus-to-indias-solar-switch/

NEW DELHI (AP) — For six years in a row, India's monopoly coal producer has missed its production targets, leading to chronic electricity shortages and sending power producers scrambling for pricier imports. But what looks like a looming crisis could turn out to be an almost accidental energy overhaul.

Like many developing nations, India has relied for decades on cheap coal to provide electricity for burgeoning industry and fast-expanding cities, putting aside worries about pollution and global warming.

But from three years ago when solar capacity was almost zero, the country has added 2.2 gigawatts of solar to its electricity grid, enough to power 20 million Indian homes. It plans another 2 GW this year, toward a total 15 GW addition by 2017. Individual states plan even more. India has also added about 26 GW in coal-fired capacity since 2011, but already plants are sitting idle for lack of cheap supply.

"I've stopped developing coal plants," said Ratul Puri, chairman of Hindustan Power Projects Ltd. "There's not enough coal, and I'm not going to rely on imported coal. It's too risky."

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[Nihil]

1. Right decision, wrong reason.

> India has also added about 26 GW in coal-fired capacity since 2011,
> but already plants are sitting idle for lack of cheap supply.

There's some cheer in the result but not for the mindset that is still driving it.