India energy profile
India — the world's most consequential energy transition
India is the world's third-largest energy consumer, third-largest oil importer, fourth-largest coal producer, and one of the fastest-growing major renewable energy markets. India's energy choices over the next 20 years will have a larger impact on global climate outcomes than almost any other nation. India imports 85% of its oil, 55% of its gas, and has a coal-dominated grid — yet has set the world's largest absolute renewable energy targets and is executing them faster than almost anyone expected.
3rd
Largest energy consumer globally
500 GW
Renewable target by 2030 (MNRE)
73 GW
Solar installed March 2024
85%
Oil import dependency
~70%
Electricity from coal (2024)
1.44 B
Population (2024)
India electricity sector
India's electricity system — coal giant adding renewables at record pace
India electricity capacity (March 2024, CEA):
Total installed capacity: approximately 925 GW (including rooftop solar and small hydro).
Coal: ~215 GW (23% of capacity, generates ~70% of electricity due to high CF)
Large hydro: ~47 GW
Nuclear: ~7.5 GW (24 reactors, NPCIL)
Solar (utility + rooftop): ~81 GW
Wind: ~46 GW
Biomass/bagasse: ~11 GW
Small hydro: ~5 GW
Gas: ~26 GW (mostly idle — gas is too expensive)
India added approximately 20 GW of solar in FY2023-24 alone. Non-fossil capacity crossed 45% of installed capacity in 2024 — meeting India's 2030 NDC target 6 years early. Source: CEA India Installed Capacity March 2024.
Total installed capacity: approximately 925 GW (including rooftop solar and small hydro).
Coal: ~215 GW (23% of capacity, generates ~70% of electricity due to high CF)
Large hydro: ~47 GW
Nuclear: ~7.5 GW (24 reactors, NPCIL)
Solar (utility + rooftop): ~81 GW
Wind: ~46 GW
Biomass/bagasse: ~11 GW
Small hydro: ~5 GW
Gas: ~26 GW (mostly idle — gas is too expensive)
India added approximately 20 GW of solar in FY2023-24 alone. Non-fossil capacity crossed 45% of installed capacity in 2024 — meeting India's 2030 NDC target 6 years early. Source: CEA India Installed Capacity March 2024.
India electricity demand and supply:
Total electricity generation FY2023-24: approximately 1,736 TWh (CEA).
Peak demand met: approximately 250 GW (FY2024 peak).
T&D losses: approximately 18% (target: below 12% by 2025 under RDSS).
NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation, 22.57°N 88.36°E HQ) is India's largest power generator at approximately 75 GW — still coal-dominated but rapidly adding solar and hydro.
Power Grid Corporation (PGCIL) operates approximately 175,000 circuit km of high-voltage transmission — the world's third-largest transmission network.
India's grid challenge: The best renewable resources are in Rajasthan (solar) and Tamil Nadu/Gujarat (wind) — far from the largest load centres (Maharashtra/Delhi/UP). New HVDC lines (Green Energy Corridors) are being built to bridge this gap. Source: NTPC Annual Report 2023-24 · PGCIL Annual Report.
Total electricity generation FY2023-24: approximately 1,736 TWh (CEA).
Peak demand met: approximately 250 GW (FY2024 peak).
T&D losses: approximately 18% (target: below 12% by 2025 under RDSS).
NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation, 22.57°N 88.36°E HQ) is India's largest power generator at approximately 75 GW — still coal-dominated but rapidly adding solar and hydro.
Power Grid Corporation (PGCIL) operates approximately 175,000 circuit km of high-voltage transmission — the world's third-largest transmission network.
India's grid challenge: The best renewable resources are in Rajasthan (solar) and Tamil Nadu/Gujarat (wind) — far from the largest load centres (Maharashtra/Delhi/UP). New HVDC lines (Green Energy Corridors) are being built to bridge this gap. Source: NTPC Annual Report 2023-24 · PGCIL Annual Report.
India oil, gas, and coal
India's fossil fuel situation
Oil imports and refining:
India imports approximately 232 MT crude/year (PPAC 2022-23). Domestic production: approximately 30 MT (Mumbai High ONGC and Rajasthan Cairn). Largest import sources post-2022: Russia (~40 MT, driven by price discounts), Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA. India has 23 refineries, 254 MT/yr capacity, dominated by Reliance Jamnagar (1.24M bbl/day, 22.47°N 69.87°E — world's largest). India is a net petroleum products exporter — Reliance Jamnagar exports diesel, petrol, and jet fuel globally. India's oil demand projected to grow from 5 to 7-8 M bbl/day by 2035 — fastest of any major economy (IEA India Energy Outlook 2021). Source: PPAC India · Reliance Industries AR 2023.
India imports approximately 232 MT crude/year (PPAC 2022-23). Domestic production: approximately 30 MT (Mumbai High ONGC and Rajasthan Cairn). Largest import sources post-2022: Russia (~40 MT, driven by price discounts), Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA. India has 23 refineries, 254 MT/yr capacity, dominated by Reliance Jamnagar (1.24M bbl/day, 22.47°N 69.87°E — world's largest). India is a net petroleum products exporter — Reliance Jamnagar exports diesel, petrol, and jet fuel globally. India's oil demand projected to grow from 5 to 7-8 M bbl/day by 2035 — fastest of any major economy (IEA India Energy Outlook 2021). Source: PPAC India · Reliance Industries AR 2023.
Coal — India's energy backbone:
India produced approximately 893 MT of coal in 2022-23 (Coal India + captive). Coal India Limited (23.34°N 85.32°E HQ Ranchi) produced approximately 703 MT. Coal powers approximately 70% of India's electricity. India has approximately 5th-largest coal reserves globally. The government has set a target of 1,000 MT/yr of domestic production by 2025 — to reduce coal imports. India imported approximately 185 MT coal in 2022-23 (mostly coking coal from Australia and thermal coal from Indonesia/South Africa). India's NDC does not include a coal phase-out date. CEA NEP 2023 adds 51 GW new coal by 2032 while retiring 80 GW of old plants. Source: Coal India AR 2023 · CEA NEP 2023.
India produced approximately 893 MT of coal in 2022-23 (Coal India + captive). Coal India Limited (23.34°N 85.32°E HQ Ranchi) produced approximately 703 MT. Coal powers approximately 70% of India's electricity. India has approximately 5th-largest coal reserves globally. The government has set a target of 1,000 MT/yr of domestic production by 2025 — to reduce coal imports. India imported approximately 185 MT coal in 2022-23 (mostly coking coal from Australia and thermal coal from Indonesia/South Africa). India's NDC does not include a coal phase-out date. CEA NEP 2023 adds 51 GW new coal by 2032 while retiring 80 GW of old plants. Source: Coal India AR 2023 · CEA NEP 2023.
India renewable energy
India's renewable energy revolution
Solar milestones:
India's National Solar Mission (2010) set a 20 GW target by 2022. India far exceeded it — reaching 73 GW by March 2024. The 500 GW renewable target by 2030 requires approximately 300 GW solar. Record bids: Bhadla ₹1.99/kWh (NTPC 2020, ~$24/MWh), Rewa ₹2.97/kWh. Largest parks: Bhadla (27.53°N 71.92°E, 2,245 MW), Pavagada (14.07°N 76.78°E, 2,050 MW). Planned: Dholera (22.25°N 72.18°E, 5,000 MW), Khavda Rann of Kutch (23.15°N 70.00°E, 30 GW — world's largest planned renewable energy park). Source: MNRE India Annual Report 2023-24.
India's National Solar Mission (2010) set a 20 GW target by 2022. India far exceeded it — reaching 73 GW by March 2024. The 500 GW renewable target by 2030 requires approximately 300 GW solar. Record bids: Bhadla ₹1.99/kWh (NTPC 2020, ~$24/MWh), Rewa ₹2.97/kWh. Largest parks: Bhadla (27.53°N 71.92°E, 2,245 MW), Pavagada (14.07°N 76.78°E, 2,050 MW). Planned: Dholera (22.25°N 72.18°E, 5,000 MW), Khavda Rann of Kutch (23.15°N 70.00°E, 30 GW — world's largest planned renewable energy park). Source: MNRE India Annual Report 2023-24.
Wind and other renewables:
India has 46 GW wind (March 2024) — 4th globally. Best sites: Tamil Nadu (Muppandal 8.42°N 77.68°E), Rajasthan (Jaisalmer 27.17°N 70.91°E), Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh. Offshore wind: India's first offshore wind tender (1 GW, Gujarat coast) launched 2023 — still in pre-development. Ambitious target: 30 GW offshore wind by 2030. Green Hydrogen: India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (₹19,744 crore, ~$2.4 billion) targets 5 MT/year of green hydrogen by 2030 — one of the world's most ambitious green hydrogen programmes. Nuclear expansion: 10 × 700 MW PHWR Fleet under construction, Kudankulam units 3–6 progressing. Source: MNRE India 2024 · MNRE Green Hydrogen Mission.
India has 46 GW wind (March 2024) — 4th globally. Best sites: Tamil Nadu (Muppandal 8.42°N 77.68°E), Rajasthan (Jaisalmer 27.17°N 70.91°E), Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh. Offshore wind: India's first offshore wind tender (1 GW, Gujarat coast) launched 2023 — still in pre-development. Ambitious target: 30 GW offshore wind by 2030. Green Hydrogen: India's National Green Hydrogen Mission (₹19,744 crore, ~$2.4 billion) targets 5 MT/year of green hydrogen by 2030 — one of the world's most ambitious green hydrogen programmes. Nuclear expansion: 10 × 700 MW PHWR Fleet under construction, Kudankulam units 3–6 progressing. Source: MNRE India 2024 · MNRE Green Hydrogen Mission.
India energy policy
Key India energy policies and programmes
| Policy / Programme | Target / Status | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| National Solar Mission | 500 GW renewables by 2030 | Core renewable energy policy. Solar target approximately 300 GW, wind ~100 GW, other ~100 GW. |
| PM-KUSUM | 30 GW agricultural solar by 2022 | Solarising agricultural pump sets and feeder lines — reduces expensive daytime electricity for irrigation. |
| PMUY (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana) | 96 million LPG connections (2023) | Free LPG cylinder + stove to BPL households. World's largest clean cooking programme. Refill rate challenge. |
| PAT (Perform Achieve and Trade) | 13 industrial sectors, 478 plants | Energy intensity reduction targets with tradeable Energy Saving Certificates. BEE administers. |
| RDSS (Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme) | ₹3.03 lakh crore, reduce T&D to <12% | 250 million smart meters, feeder separation, distribution infrastructure upgrades. 2021–2026. |
| PLI for ACC Batteries | 50 GWh domestic manufacturing by 2027 | Production Linked Incentive for Advanced Chemistry Cell batteries. Reliance, Ola, TATA as awardees. |
| National Green Hydrogen Mission | 5 MT/yr green H₂ by 2030 | ₹19,744 crore outlay. SIGHT scheme for electrolysers and green H₂. Adani, Reliance, NTPC as lead developers. |
| India NDC (Paris Agreement) | 50% non-fossil electricity by 2030; −45% emissions intensity vs 2005 | Updated 2022. 500 GW renewables by 2030. Net zero by 2070 (announced COP26). No coal phase-out date. |
Questions
Questions about India's energy
Why does India keep building coal plants while simultaneously leading renewable energy expansion?
India's simultaneous coal expansion and renewable expansion is not a contradiction — it reflects India's energy reality. India's electricity demand is growing approximately 6–8% per year (IEA India Energy Outlook). Even with 20–25 GW/year of new renewable additions, India needs to add firm, dispatchable capacity (capacity that generates reliably regardless of weather) to serve growing base load. Coal provides firm capacity at approximately Rs 4–6/kWh variable cost. Until grid-scale storage (batteries, pumped hydro) can provide equivalent firm capacity at competitive cost, coal fills the gap. India's CEA NEP 2023 projects adding 51 GW of new coal by 2032 — while simultaneously retiring 80 GW of old coal (plants older than 25 years with poor efficiency and high emissions). The net change is −29 GW of coal capacity. But because new coal plants have 2–3× higher capacity factors, net coal electricity generation increases. India's position at international negotiations is that it needs time and finance to complete the transition — and that coal is necessary for energy security and economic growth during that transition. Source: CEA NEP 2023 · IEA India Energy Outlook 2021.
What is Khavda — India's most ambitious renewable energy project?
Khavda Renewable Energy Park (23.15°N 70.00°E, Rann of Kutch, Gujarat) is being developed by Adani Green Energy as the world's largest planned renewable energy complex — a staggering 30,000 MW (30 GW) of solar and wind on approximately 72,600 acres (538 km²) in the Rann of Kutch salt desert. The site was chosen for its exceptional renewable resources: GHI approximately 5.8 kWh/m²/day (solar) and wind speeds of 6–7 m/s. The land is unproductive saline desert — minimal ecosystem displacement. Adani Green Energy (in which TotalEnergies holds 19.75%) has already commissioned the first phases. If completed, Khavda alone would add more generation capacity than France's entire nuclear fleet. Transmission connectivity via PGCIL's Green Energy Corridor. As of , approximately 2 GW operational with aggressive expansion underway. Source: Adani Green Energy Annual Report 2023-24 · MNRE India.
Provenance
Attribution and citation
- Sources
- MNRE India Annual Report 2023-24 · CEA India NEP 2023 · PPAC India Annual Report 2022-23 · Coal India Annual Report 2022-23 · NPCIL · Ministry of Power India · NTPC Annual Report 2023-24
- Cite as
- "India Energy Profile — Complete Reference · The Energy Codex", The Energy Codex, https://thecodex.expert/energy/countries/india/, last updated .