India to Develop 97 GW Coal-fired Power Capacity by FY35

Ministry of Power (MoP) has planned to develop an additional 97 GW (97,000 MW) of coal & lignite-based electricity generation capacity by FY 2034-35. This will raise India’s thermal installed capacity to ~307 GW (as against 211.8 GW in March 2023). This expansion complements India’s renewable target of 500 GW by 2030 and the Net Zero by 2070 commitment.

Key Highlights

  • Installed capacity (as of June 2025): 485 GW (all sources).
  • Projected capacity (2031-32): ~870 GW (as per National Electricity Plan 2023).
  • Thermal additions (since April 2023): 11,680 MW commissioned.
  • Thermal under construction: 38,935 MW (incl. 5,695 MW stressed projects).
  • Thermal projects awarded in FY 2024-25: 15,440 MW.
  • Candidate capacity identified for planning: 35,460 MW (coal + lignite).

Hydro Power

  • 13,463.5 MW under construction.
  • 9,802 MW in planning (to be completed by 2031-32).

Renewable Energy (RE)

  • 158,450 MW RE under construction, including:
    • 74,150 MW solar,
    • 30,080 MW wind,
    • 53,750 MW hybrid.
  • 62,000 MW in planning (to be completed by 2029-30).

Energy Storage

  • Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs):
    • 8,250 MW/49,500 MWh under construction.
    • 5,780 MW/34,680 MWh concurred, yet to start.
    • 3,500 MW/21,000 MWh under bidding.
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): 15,829 MW/51,106 MWh under various stages.

Nuclear Power

  • 6,600 MW nuclear under construction (to be completed by 2029-30).
  • 7,000 MW in planning/approval stage.

Demand Drivers

  • Rapid economic growth.
  • Household electrification & urbanisation.
  • Rising use of energy-intensive technologies – ACs, EVs.
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): Electricity demand from EV charging expected to be 63,651 MU (~2.35% of total demand) by FY 2031-32.

Key Facts

  • Current Installed Power Capacity (June 2025): ~485 GW.
  • Top Power Sources in India (share of installed capacity):
    • Thermal (Coal + Lignite + Gas + Diesel): ~55%
    • Renewables (Solar + Wind + Biomass + Small Hydro): ~30%
    • Large Hydro: ~11%
    • Nuclear: ~2%
  • India’s 500 GW RE target year: 2030.
  • Net Zero year: 2070.
  • National Electricity Plan (NEP): Published by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under Ministry of Power, updated every 5 years.
  • Largest coal reserves in India: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Largest lignite reserves in India: Tamil Nadu (Neyveli Lignite Corporation – NLC).
  • India’s largest hydro project (operational): Koyna Hydroelectric Project, Maharashtra (1,960 MW).
  • India’s largest under-construction hydro project: Subansiri Lower HEP (2,000 MW) on Assam-Arunachal border.
  • India’s only nuclear power operator: Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
  • First nuclear power plant in India: Tarapur Atomic Power Station (Maharashtra, 1969).
  • Largest nuclear power station in India: Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Tamil Nadu).

Connect with our Social Channels

Share With Friends

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top