Decarbonisation Pathways for Net-Zero Emissions in India: A Case Study of Thermal Power Industry

Resulting from the fast-approaching climate change limits, the global stakeholders have begun to prioritize net-zero emission as the ideal path to move forward. India prime source of emission is the energy sector as India progresses toward more industrialization. APublic Sector Undertaking is the biggest electricity producer, accounting for 25% of India electricity needs and therefore, its decarbonization is imperative to meet the climate goals. In this paper, we investigate a leading thermal power industry decarbonization strategy and analyze their emission profile and net-zero efforts by looking at their thermal power unit which supplies electricity to the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi. In this regard, we procured primary data through a questionnaire during a semi-structured interview with their sustainability team. Further, visits were conducted to collect primary monthly emissions and decarbonization data from its Delhi NCR power plant. We have studied the data to analyze the seasonal trends in Delhi NCR power plant emission profile and observed their carbon sequestration efforts. The carbon sequestration through nature-based solutions, enhanced renewable energy portfolio, energy, and fuel efficiency, carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, carbon credits, business responsibility and sustainability reporting, and global reporting initiative reporting frameworks, among other decarbonization strategy, will accelerate their net-zero emission goals ahead of 2070 target. . KEYWORDS :Climate change, Corporate sustainability, Industrial decarbonization, Nature-based solutions, Scope emissions