While the push for renewables is strong, thermal energy (mostly coal) remains mandatory in many places like India for grid stability and baseload power due to storage limitations, but regulations now force thermal plants to integrate renewables (Renewable Generation Obligation - RGO), bridging the gap until cost-effective storage makes renewables fully dispatchable, meaning thermal provides the reliable backbone while renewables handle increasing shares, making them complementary, not just substitutes.

While the push for renewables is strong, thermal energy (mostly coal) remains mandatory in many places like India for grid stability and baseload power due to storage limitations, but regulations now force thermal plants to integrate renewables (Renewable Generation Obligation - RGO), bridging the gap until cost-effective storage makes renewables fully dispatchable, meaning thermal provides the reliable backbone while renewables handle increasing shares, making them complementary, not just substitutes. 
Why thermal energy is still essential.

Baseload Power & Stability: -
Thermal plants provide constant, dispatchable power (24/7), crucial for grid stability, which intermittent renewables (wind, solar) can't fully match without massive, affordable storage, notes the Indian government.
Energy Security: -
For countries like India, relying heavily on indigenous coal ensures energy independence, says PIB.
Current Capacity: -
Thermal power forms over 50% of India's capacity, making immediate replacement difficult, according to PIB. 
How thermal energy is changing.
Renewable Generation Obligation (RGO): -
New thermal plants must generate or procure 40% of their energy from renewables, forcing integration, reports Eco-Business and PSU Watch.
Hybridization: -
This mandate pushes for hybrid plants (thermal + solar/wind) or procurement, reducing reliance on fossil fuels for the full load, notes Ministry of Power and India's energy landscape. 
The Future: Complementary, Not Competitive
The strategy isn't just replacing coal but displacing it, with thermal power providing reliability while renewables grow.. Thermal energy remains mandatory for dispatchable power until storage solves intermittency, notes the Indian government. 
In essence, thermal power provides the "always-on" baseline, while renewables add clean capacity, with new rules ensuring thermal plants contribute to renewable targets, making them partners in the energy transition, not just rivals, according to Eco-Business and PIB. 
India has significant thermal capacity (over 230 GW as of early 2021), with more under construction, supporting energy security.
Solar Power: The largest contributor, with installed capacity exceeding 130 GW by late 2025.
Wind Power: A strong second, surpassing 50 GW in early 2025.
Hydro Power: A significant source, with large hydro contributing around 46 GW and small hydro adding more.
Bioenergy: Biomass and biogas add to the diversified mix, utilizing agricultural waste. 
MJF Lion ER YK Sharma 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Solar Generation in Night hrs

How to get get Solar generations in Night        While standard solar panels cannot generate electricity at night,     New technologies are being developed to address this limitation.      These advancements focus on harnessing the earth's heat or using infrared radiation emitted by the Earth to generate power, potentially creating 24-hour renewable energy sources.  Key Concepts and Technologies :- 1) Anti-Solar Panels (Thermo-radiative Cells):- How they work:-    These panels, also known as thermoradiative cells, work in reverse of traditional solar panels. Instead of absorbing sunlight, they emit infrared radiation into space, which is then converted into electricity.    Nighttime energy:-     They can generate electricity from the difference in temperature between the panel and the surrounding environment, essentially converting the heat escaping into space back into usable power.  Potential:-  ...
Read more

Hydrogen at home — It's the end of solar and wind power

  Hydrogen at home — It's the end of solar and wind power         Statement "1000 pounds" per day of hydrogen at home — It's the end of solar and wind power in the world" is not accurate.     While hydrogen can be produced from renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, it's not a replacement for those sources themselves. Hydrogen production via electrolysis, using renewable electricity, is a promising avenue for decarbonization, but it doesn't negate the need for solar and wind power as direct energy sources.  Cause behind its is as under. Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier:-     Hydrogen is an energy carrier, meaning it stores energy produced elsewhere (like from solar or wind) and can be used to power fuel cells or for other applications.  Electrolysis:-     A key method of producing "green" hydrogen involves using electricity from renewable sources (like solar and wind) to split water into hydrogen and oxygen throu...
Read more

State-wise carbon emissions in India show a concentration in western and southern states, with byd as major emitters, particularly from the manufacturing and energy sectors. The highest total CO2 emissions have been linked to states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, though the specific ranking can vary depending on the data year and the specific pollutants included.

Image
Top 10 Electricity-Producing States in India (2025) Share of India’s  Total Power Generation in (%) 1) Gujarat ~12.61% 2) Maharashtra~10.71% 3)Rajasthan~10.29% 4)Tamil Nadu~7.63% 5)Karnataka~6.30% 6)Uttar Pradesh~5.88% 7)Andhra Pradesh~5.25% 8)Madhya Pradesh~4.62% 9)Telangana~3.78% 10)Haryana~2.94%      State-wise carbon emissions in India show a concentration in western and southern states, with  by d as major emitters, particularly from the manufacturing and energy sectors. The highest total CO2 emissions have been linked to states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, though the specific ranking can vary depending on the data year and the specific pollutants included.   Key Trends & States Western & Southern Dominance:  - Studies indicate that western states and some southern states are consistently among the highest emitters of CO2.  Manufacturing Powerhouses:  - States with si...
Read more