India’s installed power capacity to reach 900.42 GW by FY32

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has projected addition of a total 517,403 Mega Watts (517.40 GW) installed power generating capacity in India, which will take the country’s installed capacity to a total 900.42 GW  by 2031-2032. 

This includes 132,148.5 MW (132.14 GW) generating capacity under construction, minister for power and new and renewable energy R K Singh informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Thursday.

To ensure 24x7 availability of power supply and achieve energy security, the country needs to tap non-renewable sources of energy as well, the minister said, adding that this will continue till cost-effective energy storage solutions are available.

Besides, a large-scale integration of variable and intermittent renewable energy resources with the grid requires power sources which can act as base load and balance the grid for grid stability. This necessitates continued dependence on coal-based generation till cost-effective energy storage solutions are available. 

Power demand in the country is increasing rapidly with the addition of 28.6 million new consumers and to cater to the growing economy. The peak power demand during the FY2013- has increased to. 

The projected peak demand as per the 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) will be 277,200 MW in FY2026-27 and 366,400 MW in FY2031-32. 

The National Electricity Plan estimates the installed capacity requirement for the year 2031-32 to be 900,422 MW (900.42 GW). This includes 284,467 MW of fossil-based capacity (Coal and Lignite - 259,643 MW and Gas – 24,824 MW) and 6,15,955 MW of non-fossil-based capacity (Nuclear -19,680 MW, Large hydro - 62,178 MW, Solar - 364,566 MW, Wind - 121,895 MW, Small Hydro – 5,450 MW, Biomass - 15,500 MW, Pumped storage projects - 26,686 MW) along with battery energy storage system capacity of 47,244 MW / 236,220 MWh).  

CEA’s generation planning studies put the required coal-based installed capacity at 283,000 MW by FY2032 against the present installed capacity of 214,000 MW. Accordingly an additional 80,000 W of coal and lignite-based capacity is planned. 

Against this requirement, 27,180 MW is under construction; 31,010 MW is under advanced stages of planning/ development; and 29,720 MW capacity is further identified for development

In order to achieve the projected requirement of 283,000 MW of coal/lignite-based capacity by 2032, a minimum of 80,000 MW of coal-based capacity needs to be added by 2031-2032. 

As per a report prepared by the CEA, the total installed thermal power capacity (coal and lignite, gas and diesel) is 239,072 MW, which includes Odisha (9,540 MW) and Maharashtra (27,063 MW). 

Besides, 27,180 MW of thermal capacity is under construction and the total anticipated thermal capacity addition by 2031-32 is likely to be 87,910 MW

Hydro power capacity (including stalled projects) of 18,033.5 MW is under construction and the total anticipated hydro capacity addition by 2031-2032 is expected to be 42,014 MW.

Nuclear power capacity of 8,000 MW is under construction and the total anticipated nuclear capacity addition by 2031-32 is likely to be 12,200 MW.

Renewable energy capacity of 78,935 MW is under construction and the anticipated RE capacity addition by 2031-32 will be 375,279 MW. The minister added.