Ritika
Nagpur, Converting some of Maharashtra’s oldest and costliest coal plants to clean energy and grid stability services, with the help of land and outdated coal infrastructure, has found a new analysis by research firm Climate Risk Horizons has found that 5700 crore benefits Could.
The research, conducted by Dr Girish Shrimali, Head of Transition Finance Research at the Oxford Sustainable Finance Group, University of Oxford, for the first time looked at the closure and conversion of 4,020 MW of old coal units at Bhusaval, Chandrapur, Koradi, Khaparkheda and Nashik. The associated cost and profit consequences were assessed.
The report outlines how the state’s transition to legacy units can maximize economic benefits and gradually reduce its dependence on coal over the coming decade as per India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Climate Agreement Will happen
Maharashtra tops in energy transition
Ashish Fernandes, CEO of Climate Risk Horizons, said that Maharashtra is one of the leading states in India’s energy transition. The study shows that the closure and conversion of the state’s older, more expensive coal plants could offer economically attractive opportunities. The old coal units have either completed their life or are nearing it. Also, their operating cost is very expensive, which is Rs 6 per kilo watt hour. They need to install air pollution control equipment to comply with the emission norms, which is quite expensive.
Several studies have shown that closing old coal plants and replacing their planned output with new, renewable energy will result in savings through reduced electricity costs. This analysis has been done about the old plants of Maharashtra. Under this, the cost and economic benefit of shutting down plants can be brought to the use of existing land and electricity infrastructure for solar PV, battery storage and grid stabilization services.
Suresh Chopne of Chandrapur-based Green Planet Society said that due to the serious air and water pollution caused by coal plants in the state, it is necessary to reduce Maharashtra’s dependence on expensive and outdated coal plants. Emphasis should be laid on long term measures which will be effective not only for public health but also to control rising electricity prices.
