ABSTRACT
Due to its abundance, access, and affordability of indigenous coal, the Indian power sector is heavily dependent on coal and it is likely to remain dependent on coal at least in the next 30–40 years. On the other hand, the Indian energy sector has experienced paradigm shifts in the last few decades due to the nation's increased demand for electricity pertaining to economic growth. Coal-based electricity production being 69% of the total electricity generation in India, achieving higher energy use efficiency of the Indian thermal power plant becomes essential to achieve a low-carbon economy. In this backdrop, the present study aims to assess the performances of the Indian thermal power plants in terms of energy and environmental efficiency through a production theoretic framework. A significant amount of emission reduction is possible just by improving the energy use efficiency of the power plants. While some Indian states have transitioned to renewable power, the majority of the production states have to adopt low-carbon strategies that can lower emission rates without compromising the gross annual electricity generation required to meet the electricity demand of the country.
