BUILDING INDIA'S GREEN POWER GRID

INDIA IS on the cusp of a green energy revolution, aiming to double its electricity generation capacity by 2032 to meet its ambitious target of 500 GW by 2030 and 600 GW of renewable energy by 2032. But can it overcome the towering financial and logistical challenges to achieve this?

- VAIBHAV PRATAP SINGH

Over the past two years, India has published two volumes of the National Electricity Plan (NEP), outlining strategies for electricity generation and transmission from 2022 to 2032. Under the NEP, India aims to reach a total installed generation capacity of over 900 GW by FY32, including approximately 285 GW from fossil fuels and 615 GW from non-fossil sources.

Within the fossil fuel category, about 260 GW from coal and 25 GW from gas are likely installed capacities. In the non-fossil category, the anticipated contributions are 364 GW from solar energy, 122 GW from wind energy, 62 GW from large hydropower projects, 20 GW from nuclear power and others. Supported by 74 GW of storage systems with 27 GW of pumped storage, and over 47 GW from battery energy storage systems (BESS) capacities. This is a tall ask given India's installed generation capacity was 457 GW as of November 2024, thereby needing a doubling of the installed capacity in over 8 years.

Meeting the renewable energy targets set for the end of 2024 will be quite challenging. The goal is to achieve 98 GW of solar power and 48 GW of wind power. By 2032, the planned capacities are significantly higher—364 GW for solar, which is 3.6 times the current capacity, and over 122 GW for wind, more than 2.5 times the current capacity. This means the country needs to add nearly 45 to 50 GW of new renewable energy capacity yearly during this period. Achieving this will be difficult, considering that India has only added a maximum of 30 GW of renewable energy (including both wind and solar) in any single year, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).