ABSTRACT
The increase in non-fossil fuel–based power generation is fundamental for transitioning to a low-carbon economy. With the directive issued by the Government of India to decommission thermal power plants that have exceeded a particular number of years since inception, severe social, economic, and environmental impacts will be experienced by diverse stakeholder groups in the coming years. Therefore, it is imperative to see how the land and other resources formerly employed at these retired thermal power plants can be repurposed for any other revenue-generating activity that will also create employment opportunities. This chapter throws light on the challenges associated with the process of decommissioning and reutilising old thermal power plants in India and discusses various models of repurposing these units by drawing references of successful case interventions from across the globe. It also suggests a possible roadmap to ensure a just decommissioning as well as repurposing process of a conventional fossil fuel–based power plant.
