India wants coal plants to run lower so solar can shine
India is set to roll out a policy that will make coal power plants operate at much lower capacities—possibly down to 40%—to help the country use more solar energy.
This shift means big upgrades and extra maintenance for those older plants.
What's changing, and why?
Coal plants running at low capacity will let more solar power flow into the grid, but it also makes these plants less efficient and wears them out faster.
Maintenance costs could jump by about 20%, and these expenses may end up raising your electricity bill once regulators give the green light.
Why does this matter?
Even as India ramps up solar, coal still has to balance things out—especially since hydropower and gas are limited.
The government is finalizing rules so coal plants stay flexible and reliable during this transition, aiming for cleaner energy without blackouts.