Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Infrastructure | Energy
Why in News?
Recent CREA’s analysis for Carbon Brief showed India’s coal power recorded zero growth between H1 2024–H1 2026, the first such stagnation in over 50 years.
- No Growth in Coal Power – This does not mean coal has been eliminated from India's electricity system.
- Coal remains a major source of electricity.
- India added approximately 8.5 GW of coal-fired capacity during this period.
- Approximately 43 GW of coal capacity was under construction as of the end of June 2026.
- The key change is that rising electricity demand was increasingly met by new non-fossil generation instead of additional coal generation.
- As renewable energy use grows, coal plants may need to operate more flexibly and reduce output when renewable generation is high.
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- Solar Power as a Key Driver – It is now the leading source of new clean electricity generation.
- Solar generation rose by 44 TWh from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2026.
- Solar capacity grew by approximately 77 GW over the same period.
- Installed solar capacity reached 164.59 GW as of 31 July 2026, up from 2.8 GW in 2014.
- Energy Storage – It is essential because renewable electricity is not always available during peak demand.
- India's National Electricity Plan projects the following storage requirements:
- The plan estimates a storage requirement of 82 GWh by 2026–27.
- By 2031–32, the projected storage requirement increases to 411 GWh.
- State-wise Transition – The clean-energy transition exhibits significant regional variation across India.
- Gujarat
- Gujarat experienced the largest increase in clean-power generation.
- The state also recorded the largest decline in fossil-fuel generation during H1 2024 to H1 2026.
- Rajasthan & Tamil Nadu
- Both states reported major increases in clean energy generation.
- They also recorded reductions in fossil-fuel generation.
- Maharashtra & Telangana
- These states recorded some of the largest increases in electricity demand.
- Additional clean generation almost matched this demand growth.
Reference
MC | India's Clean-Energy Push
