Buffeted or energized? India’s dynamic energy transition

The Indian power sector is highly dynamic and its destination uncertain. Clearly it is undergoing a transition, but important aspects of that change remain hidden. Coal combustion still dominates Indian electricity generation; “King Coal” still reigns in India. But for how long? Renewable energy generation is undergoing a boom the economic certainty of which is undermined by very low pricing achieved via energy auctions. Power sector mis-governance afflicts the renewables sector and is even more pronounced in India’s coal mining and thermal energy sector. Domestic policy drivers dictate the need for greater and greater levels of electricity generation, and for cleaner air—an objective not consistent with current thermal power practice in India. International concern regarding climate change is finally finding an echo in India, and the country has undergone a remarkable transformation from climate change laggard to powerful advocate and leader. The dynamics of domestic-international Indian policy-making are analysed through the lens of Indian’s emerging energy transition, its likely future destination, and the ability of the renewables sector to take the additional load.