How has India's power capacity surged by 56% from 305 GW to 476 GW in a decade?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India's total power capacity increased from 305 GW to 476 GW over 10 years.
- Electricity generation rose from 1,168 billion units to 1,824 billion units.
- Power shortages decreased from 4.2% to 0.1%.
- Over 2.8 crore households were electrified.
- Installed renewable energy capacity grew from 76.37 GW to 226.79 GW.
New Delhi, June 22 (NationPress) The Indian power sector has undergone significant growth, propelled by escalating demand, extensive infrastructure advancements, and robust policy backing for both traditional and renewable energy over the past decade. The total installed capacity has soared by more than 56 percent, escalating from 305 gigawatts (GW) in 2015–16 to 476 GW as of June 2025, according to official data released on Sunday.
Electricity generation has surged from 1,168 billion units (BU) in 2015–16 to an anticipated 1,824 BU in 2024–25. Power shortages have drastically fallen from 4.2 percent in 2013–14 to only 0.1 percent in 2024–25.
Furthermore, over 2.8 crore households have been electrified, and per capita electricity consumption has increased by 45.8 percent during this time.
India's total installed power capacity of 476 GW comprises 240 GW of thermal energy, 110.9 GW of solar energy, and 51.3 GW of wind energy, indicating a robust transition towards renewable energy and enhanced energy security.
As one of the world's fastest-growing major economies, India is pivotal in the global energy transition. The energy demand is projected to expand at the highest rate among major economies, driven by continuous economic growth. Thus, India's share in global primary energy consumption is expected to double by 2035.
In the last eleven years, India has achieved remarkable milestones in the renewable energy sector. Aligning with commitments made at COP26, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) is diligently working to realize 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
As of June 2025, the nation has already accomplished 235.7 GW from non-fossil sources, comprising 226.9 GW of renewable energy and 8.8 GW of nuclear power, representing 49 percent of the total installed power generation capacity of 476 GW.
This achievement signifies a crucial advancement towards India's decarbonization objectives and its commitment to a sustainable future.
According to IRENA RE Statistics 2025, India ranks 4th globally in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, 4th in Wind Power, and 3rd in Solar Power capacity.
Renewable energy capacity expansion:
The installed renewable energy capacity has escalated from 76.37 GW in March 2014 to 226.79 GW in June 2025, nearly tripling, with its share in overall power generation climbing from 17.20 percent to approximately 22.2 percent.
In addition to installed capacity, 176.70 GW of renewable energy projects are currently under execution, with 72.06 GW in bidding stages.
The country's solar capacity has surged over 39 times, from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 110.9 GW in 2025, including a remarkable 23.83 GW added in just 2024–25.
There have been substantial advancements in manufacturing capacity, with Solar PV module capacity expanding from 2.3 GW to 88 GW, a 38-fold increase. Solar PV cell capacity has grown from 1.2 GW to 25 GW, a 21-fold increase. Energy Sector
India has also positioned itself as a global leader in wind energy, particularly in onshore wind power. With a developing manufacturing ecosystem, encouraging policies, and new initiatives in offshore development, the nation is making noteworthy strides in both capacity enhancement and infrastructural growth. India currently ranks 4th in the world for installed wind power capacity.