India’s Power Capacity Expands Significantly: From 305 GW to 476 GW Over Ten Years
India’s electricity sector has evolved dramatically over the last decade. In 2014, India’s installed electricity capacity was approximately 305 gigawatts (GW). By 2024, this capacity expanded to nearly 476 GW, reflecting a remarkable increase of about 56% over ten years.
Coal’s Central Role in Power Supply
Despite the global push for clean energy, coal continues to be a primary contributor to India’s electricity generation. The country’s coal-based power capacity rose from approximately 139.6 GW in 2014 to nearly 211 GW by 2024. This steady rise shows India’s ongoing dependence on coal to meet its growing electricity needs.
Authorities have also laid out plans to further develop coal capacity by adding about 80 GW by 2032. This future addition is expected to help stabilize power supply as demand continues to increase across the country.
Steady Growth in Renewable Energy Sources
While coal remains dominant, renewable energy in India has witnessed substantial growth. In 2014, the total capacity from renewable and non-fossil sources, including solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear, was roughly 75 GW. By 2024, this figure reached approximately 235 GW, showing a strong commitment to diversifying the energy mix.
Currently, nearly half of India’s total power capacity is derived from renewable and non-fossil sources. Solar power, in particular, has made significant progress, with the country achieving over 100 GW of installed solar capacity by early 2025. Wind, hydro, biomass, and nuclear energy have also made steady contributions to the sector’s growth.
During the financial year 2024-25, India added around 15 GW of renewable energy capacity, further strengthening its clean energy portfolio. This surge is supported by government incentives, falling solar equipment costs, and increasing investments from the private sector.
Expansion of Transmission Networks
India’s power sector progress extends beyond electricity generation. The country has also made considerable progress in improving its transmission and distribution systems. Over the last ten years, approximately 1.95 lakh circuit kilometers of new transmission lines have been installed, significantly improving power connectivity across the country.
Along with this, nearly 2,927 new substations were commissioned, while many older ones were modernized to handle increased loads. The country’s inter-regional power transfer capacity has now reached around 82,790 MW, enabling better power distribution across states.
These upgrades have resulted in improved electricity access. At present, rural regions generally have access to electricity for close to 22 hours each day, whereas urban centers typically benefit from about 23.4 hours of power availability daily. This marks a significant advancement compared to the levels of service available ten years ago.
Policy Measures Supporting Growth
India’s power sector expansion has been strongly influenced by supportive government policies. India has set a goal to develop 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by the year 2030 as part of its broader strategy to meet international climate objectives.
Programs like the National Solar Mission, launched in 2010, have been central to boosting solar capacity. Other major initiatives include the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for encouraging domestic solar manufacturing, policies promoting offshore wind development, and the National Green Hydrogen Mission aimed at fostering the next generation of clean energy technologies.
Recent energy market reforms, such as more competitive dispatch systems and integrated power trading platforms, aim to increase grid efficiency and reduce consumer costs.
Coal’s Continuing Importance
Even with the rapid expansion of renewable installations, coal still accounts for about 75% of the electricity actually generated in India. This underscores coal’s continuing relevance despite its decreasing share in installed capacity.
Some challenges persist, including high grid emission levels, financial strain on electricity distribution companies, funding hurdles, and regulatory complexities. Nevertheless, the growing investment by private companies in renewable energy suggests a gradual shift towards a more sustainable energy future.
Outlook for India’s Power Sector
Looking ahead, India plans to further modernize its power sector by focusing on large-scale battery storage, smart grids, and energy efficiency improvements to effectively manage the increasing role of renewable energy.
By 2032, India aims to surpass 900 GW of total installed capacity, with a significant share expected from clean energy sources. These developments are crucial to support the country’s expanding economy, ensure wider electricity access, and contribute meaningfully to global efforts to lower carbon emissions.
Conclusion
Over the last ten years, India’s power sector has made remarkable progress, with its total installed capacity almost doubling during this period. The combined growth of both coal and renewable energy sources, along with major transmission improvements, has strengthened the country’s energy framework. Despite some ongoing challenges, India is on a promising path to building a more sustainable, efficient, and diversified energy system.
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The image added is for representation purposes only
