Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in India
Continued investment in coal embroils regions in coal lock-ins, creating dependence and vested interests around coal and thereby limiting the speed and potential to switch to cleaner energy. In India, four states contribute 70% of coal production, with regions surrounding mines also housing signific...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5194 |
| _version_ | 1797747088177496064 |
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| author | Aman Malik Christoph Bertram |
| author_facet | Aman Malik Christoph Bertram |
| author_sort | Aman Malik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Continued investment in coal embroils regions in coal lock-ins, creating dependence and vested interests around coal and thereby limiting the speed and potential to switch to cleaner energy. In India, four states contribute 70% of coal production, with regions surrounding mines also housing significant operating and under-construction coal power stations. On the other hand, states in the west and south of India dominate current and near-term renewable energy capacity growth, broadly following patterns of highest resource potentials. We show that following current policies, by the end of the decade, coal-bearing states will likely sink deeper into carbon lock-ins, while the rest of the country, especially western and southern states could become increasingly decarbonised. Even in decarbonisation scenarios, gains from job and value creation in the clean energy sector might primarily take place away from existing coal regions, raising equity concerns, and ultimately putting the political feasibility of such a scenario in question. We suggest that policies aiming at higher renewable installations (mostly solar due to better potentials) in coal-bearing states, although not a one-to-one panacea, could provide an early break from lock-ins and into a just transition. This may, however, require a dedicated program and imply a small mark-up in power system costs. They would, however, help for medium-term diversification and job creation in all regions which will be key for assuring political support for the transition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:46:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9888524027bd4367a1739573bd0c1e84 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:46:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-9888524027bd4367a1739573bd0c1e842023-08-09T15:25:16ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262022-01-0117303401110.1088/1748-9326/ac5194Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in IndiaAman Malik0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7310-8448Christoph Bertram1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0933-4395Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association , 14412 Potsdam, GermanyPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association , 14412 Potsdam, GermanyContinued investment in coal embroils regions in coal lock-ins, creating dependence and vested interests around coal and thereby limiting the speed and potential to switch to cleaner energy. In India, four states contribute 70% of coal production, with regions surrounding mines also housing significant operating and under-construction coal power stations. On the other hand, states in the west and south of India dominate current and near-term renewable energy capacity growth, broadly following patterns of highest resource potentials. We show that following current policies, by the end of the decade, coal-bearing states will likely sink deeper into carbon lock-ins, while the rest of the country, especially western and southern states could become increasingly decarbonised. Even in decarbonisation scenarios, gains from job and value creation in the clean energy sector might primarily take place away from existing coal regions, raising equity concerns, and ultimately putting the political feasibility of such a scenario in question. We suggest that policies aiming at higher renewable installations (mostly solar due to better potentials) in coal-bearing states, although not a one-to-one panacea, could provide an early break from lock-ins and into a just transition. This may, however, require a dedicated program and imply a small mark-up in power system costs. They would, however, help for medium-term diversification and job creation in all regions which will be key for assuring political support for the transition.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5194energyemploymentindiajust transitioncoal statespolitical economy |
| spellingShingle | Aman Malik Christoph Bertram Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in India Environmental Research Letters energy employment india just transition coal states political economy |
| title | Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in India |
| title_full | Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in India |
| title_fullStr | Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in India |
| title_short | Solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal-bearing states in India |
| title_sort | solar energy as an early just transition opportunity for coal bearing states in india |
| topic | energy employment india just transition coal states political economy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac5194 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amanmalik solarenergyasanearlyjusttransitionopportunityforcoalbearingstatesinindia AT christophbertram solarenergyasanearlyjusttransitionopportunityforcoalbearingstatesinindia |