The myths on the relevance of coal energy and the critical need for renewable energy
Overemphasis on renewable energy would result in reducing viability of coal-fired thermal power plants in India, adding to the massive non-performing assets (NPAs) of state-run lenders, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) Arvind Subramanian said. Rapid changes in technology are promising to help realize the promise of renewables, which is an eminently desirable development. At the same time, these changes need to be seen in the context of India's current economic situation and its enormous endowments of coal, which is still a very cheap way of providing energy to hundreds of millions who are still energy-deprived, he said at the 16th Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture here organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).