The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) released the midterm review of the 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) at the Bharat Electricity Summit, New Delhi. The report outlines India’s long-term power capacity and demand projections (2026–27 to 2035–36) under the National Generation Adequacy Plan.
Key Highlights
| Indicator | Projection (2035–36) |
| Total Installed Capacity | 1,121 GW |
| Non-fossil Capacity | ~786 GW (≈70%) |
| Peak Demand | 459 GW |
| Total Electricity Requirement | 3,365 BU |
Current Status (as of Jan 2026)
| Indicator | Value |
| Installed Capacity | 520.5 GW |
| Non-fossil Share | ~52% |
| Capacity Addition (FY 2025–26) | 52.5 GW |
| Renewable Addition | ~43 GW |
Indicates a rapid shift towards clean energy
Capacity Mix by 2035–36
| Source | Capacity (GW) | Share |
| Solar | 509 | ~45% |
| Coal | 315 | ~28% |
| Wind | 155 | ~14% |
| Large Hydro | 77 | ~7% |
| Nuclear | 22 | ~2% |
| Gas | 20 | — |
| Biomass | 16 | — |
| Small Hydro | 6 | — |
Key Insight
- Solar PV becomes the backbone of India’s energy transition
- Coal remains important for baseload reliability
Electricity Demand Projections
- Peak demand growth (CAGR): 5.58%
- Energy demand growth (CAGR): 6.41%
By 2035–36:
- Peak demand: 459 GW
- Total demand: 3,365 Billion Units (BU)
Alignment with National Targets
- Supports India’s target: 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030
- Indicates: Long-term transition towards clean energy + storage + nuclear
Energy Storage: Backbone of Future Grid
Requirement by 2035–36
| Type | Capacity |
| Total Storage | 174 GW / 888 GWh |
| BESS | 80 GW / 321 GWh |
| Pumped Storage (PSP) | 94 GW / 567 GWh |
Role of Storage
- Manage variability of: Solar and wind
- Enable: Energy shifting and Grid stability
- Provide: Frequency control and Voltage regulation
Pumped Storage Plants (PSP)
- Provide: Long-duration storage (6+ hours)
- Store surplus renewable energy
- Critical for: Peak demand management
Project Pipeline
Nuclear Energy
- Under construction– 6.6 GW
- Planned– 7 GW
Renewable Energy
- Under construction– 155 GW
- Under tendering– 48 GW
- Planned (Green Energy Corridor Phase III) – 134 GW
Storage Projects
- PSP identified: 100+ GW
- Commissioned: 7.2 GW
- Under construction: 13 GW
- Planning stage: 9.5 GW
- BESS:
- Under construction: 10.7 GW
- Tendered: 22 GW
Policy Support Measures
- 100% ISTS charge waiver: For PSP & co-located BESS (till June 2028)
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF):
- ₹3,760 crore (2024): 13,220 MWh BESS
- ₹5,400 crore (2025): 30 GWh storage
- Promotion of: Co-location of storage with solar
Challenges Identified
1. Import Dependence
- 75–80% of lithium-ion cells imported
- Battery cost heavily dependent on imports
2. Critical Minerals
- Dependence on: Cobalt, Lithium, Nickel, Graphite
Risks:
- Geopolitical tensions
- Price volatility
Alternative Scenario (Lower Demand Case)
| Indicator | Revised Value |
| Peak Demand | 446 GW |
| Electricity Requirement | 3,215 BU |
| Capacity Required | 1,054 GW |
| Storage Requirement | 128 GW |
Reflects uncertainty in demand growth trends
Overall Conclusion
- India’s power sector is transitioning towards:
- Cleaner
- Flexible
- Resilient system
- Key pillars:
- Solar dominance
- Energy storage expansion
- Nuclear support
- Coal for reliability
Static Facts
Central Electricity Authority (CEA)
- Established under: Electricity Act, 2003
- Role: Power sector planning & policy advisory
Non-Fossil Energy Sources
- Includes: Hydro, Solar, Wind, Nuclear
Baseload Power
- Continuous power supply
- Traditionally from: Coal and Nuclear
Green Energy Corridor
- Initiative for: Renewable energy transmission infrastructure
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
- Stores electricity in batteries
- Used for: Renewable integration and Grid balancing