Thermal power addition misses target by wide margin

Capacity addition just 4.53 GW against the goal of 15.4 GW

- Arunima Bharadwaj

India added only 4.53 gigawatt (GW) of thermal power capacity in the financial year 2024-25, falling significantly short of its target of 15.4 GW, according to the Central Electricity Authority's latest thermal broad status report.

Despite the government's push to expand thermal capacity to meet rising power demand, most projects are facing commissioning delays.

Out of the 22 targeted units, only six were commissioned during the fiscal year—two in the central sector and four in the state sector.

During the year, six thermal power units were commissioned: Ghatampur TPP (660 MW), Khurja SCTPP (660 MW), Jawaharpur STPP (660 MW), Bhusawal TPS (660 MW), Panki TPS Extn (660 MW), and Yadadri TPS (800 MW).

According to the report, the commissioning of the remaining 16 units has been deferred to FY26.

The government now expects to add 12.86 GW of thermal capacity in the financial year 2025-26.