Despite India’s push for renewable energies, a recent notice issued by the Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) to power utilities to not retire any thermal units until 2030 has alarmed experts who say the move will have a retrograde effect on the country’s energy transition endeavours.
In its notice on January 20, the CEA said “the country is witnessing huge energy demand post pandemic which is projected to surge at all-time high in coming summer of 2023 and beyond.”
“Therefore the role of thermal fleets including old thermal units becomes crucial in order to support renewable integration,’’ it said, adding that the power minister, in a meeting held on December 6, “advised not to retire any thermal units considering the expected demand scenario and availability of capacity in future.”
