IEEFA: Khurja coal power plant plans should be re-evaluated against severe air pollution in Delhi
Published by Claire Cuddihy,
Assistant Editor
World Coal,
A recent report released by the US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) titled "The Khurja Thermal Power Project: A Recipe for an Indian Stranded Asset", has recommended that the 1320 MW proposal should be re-evaluated against severe air pollution levels in Delhi.
THDC India Limited’s proposed Khurja coal-fired power plant in Uttar Pradesh (India) is expected to push up the cost of electricity and increase air pollution levels in Delhi.
On Tuesday this week, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “poor” category, a day after it had improved from “very poor” Air Quality Index zone.
IEEFA Director of Energy Finance Studies, Tim Buckley, said: "Delhi already has the dubious reputation of having the worst air pollution of any city in the world. If the Khurja coal plant is built as planned near Delhi, this will increase the impact on local residents, emergency workers and the local government.”
"The Khurja power plant was feasible when first proposed eight years ago in response to power supply shortages and outages across northern India, but technology has moved on," he added.
Kashish Shah, IEEFA Energy Research Associate and co-author of the report commented: "India is aiming to achieve 40% of its electricity generation needs by 2030 from non-fossil fuel sources including wind and solar. As a coal-fired power plant takes significant time to ramp up power generation, the Khurja power station cannot help with grid stabilisation and peak demands, one of the new requirements of the Paris commitments," Shah told IANS.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/26102018/ieefa-khurja-coal-power-plant-plans-should-be-re-evaluated-against-severe-air-pollution-in-delhi/
You might also like
Coal exit and workforce shortages keep short-term Australian power prices high
Cornwall Insight has reported that the ongoing phase-out of coal facilities and the sluggish progress in launching new renewable energy projects is poised to push Australian electricity prices higher until 2030.