India is set to add approximately 97,000 MW of new coal and lignite capacity by 2034-35 to meet projected electricity demand, while pursuing 500 GW of installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
The ministry of new and renewable energy has informed Rajya Sabha that the projected thermal—coal and lignite — capacity requirement is estimated at approximately 3,07,000 MW by 2034-35.
As of March 31, 2023, the installed coal and lignite-based capacity was 211,855MW, with thermal capacities of around 18,160 MW commissioned from April 2023 to February 2026, and a further 40,865 MW of thermal capacity under construction.
On the renewable side, total installed power capacity stands at 513.72 GW, with non-fossil fuel capacity, including nuclear and other non-renewable clean sources, at 275.45 GW as of February 28, 2026.
India is on track to achieve its non-fossil fuel capacity targets by 2030, with the ministry of power and the Central Electricity Authority's National Generation Adequacy Plan projecting peak electricity demand of 459 GW and energy requirements of 3,365 billion units by 2035-36.
Grid integration of renewable energy will be critical to meeting this trajectory, with the transmission system planned to integrate over 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
Nuclear power has significant potential for long-term energy security, with the government setting a target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047.
