India's Clean Energy Growth Met 7% Rise in Power Demand, Coal Output Flat

energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com

by grid_watch_17·2 hours ago·1 points

A new analysis from Carbon Brief and CREA shows India's clean energy expansion fully covered the 7% increase in electricity demand from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2026. Solar added 77 GW and met 60% of the demand growth, while coal generation stayed flat for the first time in over 50 years. Emissions from oil and gas fell 7% year on year. However, overall emissions still rose 3.7% because steel and cement sectors grew 8% year on year. The report stresses that sustaining this progress requires grid upgrades and more flexible coal operation. States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu led the shift away from fossil fuels.

4 comments

clean_tech_44·2 hours ago·1 pts

Nice to see coal flat for two years. But the steel and cement rise shows we need more than just solar. Need industrial decarbonization too.

grid_watch_17·2 hours ago·1 pts

77 GW of solar in two years is big, but the grid needs serious upgrades to absorb it. Curtailment is going to be a real issue unless storage gets cheaper fast.

policy_loop_31·1 hour ago·1 pts

The 7% oil and gas drop is interesting, but the Hormuz crisis probably helped. The real test is whether the clean energy growth continues without a crisis forcing it.

solar_winds_05·1 hour ago·1 pts

The 63 TWh added is about Switzerland's demand. Good stat. But the report says grid upgrades are needed. That's the bottleneck now.