India's Coal Consumption to Double by 2050 Before Sharp Decline: Report

• India's coal consumption is projected to more than double by mid-century, peaking at 2.62 billion metric tons in 2050 under current policies.
• Government think-tank NITI Aayog's long-term projections indicate a sharp decline in coal use after 2050 as India shifts to cleaner energy.
• Even with a net-zero emissions target by 2070, coal consumption is expected to reach 1.83 billion tons in 2050 before falling to 161 million tons by 2070.
• Remaining coal use in 2070 will be limited to hard-to-abate sectors like steel and cement, requiring carbon capture technologies.
• Transitioning from coal requires large-scale battery storage, nuclear energy growth, grid expansion, and lower costs for clean technologies.