India’s Power Capacity Doubles in 10 Years, Renewables Surge

The Ministry of Power has highlighted significant advancements in India's power generation capacity over recent years.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the latest data was shared by the Minister of State for Power, Shripad Naik, recently.. Dwelling on details, he informed that from March 2014 to June 2024, the country's installed capacity has nearly doubled, rising from 2,48,554 MW to an impressive 4,46,190 MW. This increase includes a substantial growth in coal-based power, which expanded from 1,39,663 MW to 2,10,969 MW, and renewable energy capacity, which surged from 75,519 MW to 1,95,013 MW.

This expansion is complemented by extensive upgrades in transmission infrastructure, including 1,95,181 circuit KM of transmission lines and 7,30,794 MVA of transformation capacity, which have collectively strengthened the national grid's ability to transfer power across regions efficiently.

He further said that the government has also focused on enhancing the grid's efficiency, establishing a unified grid capable of transferring 1,18,740 MW and creating 13 Renewable Energy Management Centres as part of its Green Energy Corridors initiative. Significant strides have been made in reducing Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses, which have fallen from 22.62 percent in 2013-14 to 15.40 percent in 2022-23. The reduction in legacy dues owed to generation companies (GENCOs) from INR 1,39,947 crore to INR 35,119 crore further underscores the sector's improving financial health.

"The government's initiatives include various schemes to boost power availability and efficiency. The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana have successfully electrified 18,374 villages and provided 2.86 crore household connections, raising rural power availability from 12.5 hours per day in 2015 to 21.9 hours in 2024. Efforts to promote renewable energy have been bolstered by the waiver of ISTS charges for solar and wind projects and incentives for large hydro projects," noted the Minister in his reply.

Further, he added that to manage power costs, the government has implemented policies such as the SHAKTI policy for transparent coal allocation and established power exchanges for fair pricing. The introduction of the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme aims to enhance operational efficiency and reduce financial gaps. The National Merit Order Dispatch system, operational since April 2019, has optimised the cost of power generation by prioritising more efficient plants, ultimately lowering electricity costs for consumers.

The power generation capacity figures for the past few years reflect this progress: from 357,871 MW in 2018-19 to 446,190 MW as of June 2024, demonstrating a robust and ongoing expansion in India's power sector.