New coal power plants in UP pose health risk to millions: Greenpeace

New coal power plants in regions like Uttar Pradesh, in close proximity to "heavily polluted" Delhi-NCR, are financially "risky, unnecessary and pose a health risk to millions", even as cheaper electricity is available from renewable energy, a Greenpeace India analysis stated Thursday.

According to an official statement issued by Greenpeace India, the analysis focuses on the 1,320-megawatt Khurja super thermal power project (STP) in Bulandshahr of Uttar Pradesh.

"The analysis shows that with the dramatic reduction in the cost of renewable energy -- solar, wind or solar-wind hybrid projects -- will not only offer cheaper, cleaner electricity to the region but also be more financially secure for the project promoters and investors, as opposed to building a new coal-fired plant," it said.

It said that using the land footprint of the Khurja super thermal power plant as an example, the analysis looks at what a solar plant of the size and scale of the Khurja STP would entail vis-a-vis parameters such as investment required, job growth, return on equity, electricity generation and avoided pollution.