Will have the third-largest installed battery storage capacity by 2030: Report
Panaji: India’s power demand is projected to grow at over 4 per cent annually, Union Minister Shripad Naik informed the Lok Sabha while responding to an unstarred question.
Citing the World Energy Outlook 2024 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Naik said that India would witness the highest energy demand growth of any country over the next decade. He said that by 2030, India would have the third-largest installed battery storage capacity globally, supporting the increased use of renewable energy.
The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) conducts an Electric Power Survey (EPS) every five years to project electricity demand for each state and union territory, including major cities. The 20th EPS report, published in November 2022, provides demand projections for the period from 2021-22 to 2031-32, along with long-term forecasts up to 2036-37 and 2041-42.
Naik said that the country has sufficient electricity supply, with an installed power generation capacity of 470 GW. Since April 2014, the government has increased power generation capacity by 238 GW, effectively overcoming power shortages and achieving energy sufficiency.
To further boost power generation, the government has proposed adding 80,000 MW of coal-based capacity by 2031-32, with 9,350 MW of coal capacity becoming operational in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Construction is underway for 29,900 MW of thermal power, and contracts have been awarded for 22,640 MW in 2024-25, while an additional 33,580 MW of coal and lignite-based projects are in various planning stages.
Hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 13,997 MW are under construction, with another 24,225.5 MW in planning, expected to be completed by 2031-32. Nuclear power projects totalling 7,300 MW are under construction, set for completion by 2029-30, with an additional 7,000 MW in various planning and approval stages. Meanwhile, around 153,920 MW of renewable energy projects are under implementation, including 84,310 MW of solar, 28,280 MW of wind, and 40,890 MW of hybrid energy projects. Another 70,210 MW of renewable energy projects are in planning stages and expected to be completed by 2029-30.
A robust national grid has been established to ensure reliable electricity transmission across the country. Since 2014, 201,088 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 778,017 MVA of transformation capacity have been added, increasing the inter-regional transmission capacity by 82,790 MW.
Additional measures to ensure power availability include mandating imported coal-based projects to operate at full capacity under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, ensuring a continuous coal supply for thermal power plants, and operating gas-based power plants during peak demand periods. Hydropower generation is managed to meet peak demand, while planned maintenance of power units is minimized during high-demand periods. The government also monitors new projects to ensure timely completion and facilitates electricity trade through platforms like the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), Power Exchange India Ltd. (PXIL), and Hindustan Power Exchange Ltd., allowing states with surplus electricity to sell power to deficit states.
