Energy transition plans must be mindful of geopolitical vulnerabilities and avoid deepening India’s dependence on external sources for critical imports. Strategic thinking is warranted. The two obsessions of the West, the water-power-guzzling AI and energy transition, do not sit well with each other. One has to give. It appears to be the latter because the more the West (Europe, in particular) goes for wind and solar in its energy mix, the greater the coal consumption in China. The link between the two runs as follows: the requirement for critical minerals and rare earths rises with the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption. China dominates the production or processing of these materials. Processing requires cheap power. Otherwise, these inputs would be costlier, making energy transition even more expensive for Europe than it already is. Cheap power is possible only with coal-fired thermal plants. So, both are two sides of the same coin. This complex interplay makes one thing clear for India. It has to focus a lot more than it has so far on adaptation than on emission mitigation.

Which of the following statements best reflect the most logical and rational inferences that can be made from the passage?
1. A significant challenge for Europe's energy transition is the lack of domestic consumer demand for renewable energy due to its current high cost.
2. The current global energy transition strategy as pursued by the West is primarily aimed at reducing Europe's energy costs, with climate benefits being a secondary consideration.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question

Energy transition plans must be mindful of geopolitical vulnerabilities and avoid deepening India&rsquo;s dependence on external sources for critical imports. Strategic thinking is warranted. The two obsessions of the West, the water-power-guzzling AI and energy transition, do not sit well with each other. One has to give. It appears to be the latter because the more the West (Europe, in particular) goes for wind and solar in its energy mix, the greater the coal consumption in China. The link between the two runs as follows: the requirement for critical minerals and rare earths rises with the share of renewable energy in the overall energy consumption. China dominates the production or processing of these materials. Processing requires cheap power. Otherwise, these inputs would be costlier, making energy transition even more expensive for Europe than it already is. Cheap power is possible only with coal-fired thermal plants. So, both are two sides of the same coin. This complex interplay makes one thing clear for India. It has to focus a lot more than it has so far on adaptation than on emission mitigation.

Which of the following statements best reflect the most logical and rational inferences that can be made from the passage?
1. A significant challenge for Europe's energy transition is the lack of domestic consumer demand for renewable energy due to its current high cost.
2. The current global energy transition strategy as pursued by the West is primarily aimed at reducing Europe's energy costs, with climate benefits being a secondary consideration.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

TutorArc · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is not correct: The passage states the transition is "already" expensive for Europe and can become "even more expensive" due to input costs, but it doesn't explicitly state a lack of consumer demand is the challenge. The West is described as having an "obsession" with it.

Statement 2 is not correct: The passage states the transition is "even more expensive for Europe than it already is," implying cost is a challenge, not that the strategy is aimed at reducing overall energy costs. The "obsessions" are AI and energy transition itself. Further the climate considerations taking a back seat can nowhere be inferred from the passage.

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