New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) India has achieved a remarkable milestone by adding a staggering 52,537 MW (520.51 GW) of generation capacity across all sources during the fiscal year 2026 (up to January 31). This accomplishment represents the highest capacity increase ever recorded in a single year, eclipsing the previous record of 34,054 MW set in FY25, according to government reports.

The substantial capacity addition comprised 39,657 MW from renewable energy sources, with 34,955 MW from solar energy and 4,613 MW from wind energy, resulting in a total installed capacity of 520.51 GW, as stated in an official announcement.

The backdrop of this announcement coincided with the commencement of the four-day 'Bharat Electricity Summit 2026' on Thursday, which gathered policymakers, industry leaders, regulators, investors, and civil society to deliberate on energy transitions and sector reforms.

The statement highlighted, "India's consistent growth in power generation capacity ensures that the nation is well-equipped to satisfy the increasing consumption demands while bolstering economic progress."

In FY26, India successfully managed a peak power demand of 242.49 GW, and the power shortage has significantly decreased to 0.03 percent by December 2025, down from 4.2 percent in FY14, according to the government report.

Efforts have also been made to enhance the transmission and transformation infrastructure within the power system. New substations, upgraded transformers, and expanded high-capacity transmission corridors have been established to facilitate the efficient movement of electricity from generation sites to load centers across states. These investments have alleviated bottlenecks, enhanced grid stability, and enabled smoother integration of diverse energy sources into the national grid.

Moreover, the availability of reliable electricity has decreased dependence on diesel generation and traditional fuels, thereby reducing costs and improving environmental outcomes.

India's national transmission network, renowned as the world's largest synchronous national grid, has surpassed 5 lakh circuit kilometers and attained a transformation capacity of 1,407 gigavolt amperes (GVA), as noted in the report.

Initiatives like the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), and Saubhagya have mobilized approximately Rs 1.85 lakh crore in investments, electrifying 18,374 villages and providing electricity connections to around 2.86 crore households.

aar/na