New Delhi: India’s total installed power generation capacity reached 509.74 GW as of November 30, according to the latest data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The data highlights a major structural shift in the country’s power sector, with renewable energy capacity now nearly matching thermal power capacity in absolute megawatt terms.
Thermal and Renewable Capacity Near Parity
As of November-end, thermal power capacity — including coal, lignite, gas, and diesel — stood at 246.94 GW, while renewable energy capacity reached 254.02 GW. This puts the two segments at near parity in absolute terms, reflecting the rapid and sustained growth of renewable energy in recent years.
Solar Leads Renewable Capacity
Solar power dominates India’s renewable mix, contributing 132.85 GW, more than half of total renewable capacity. Other renewable sources include:
- Wind: 53.99 GW
- Small hydro: 5.16 GW
- Bio-power (including waste-to-energy): 10.76 GW
Coal Still Anchors Thermal Generation
Despite the rise of renewables, coal remains the backbone of thermal power, with 219.61 GW of installed capacity. Gas-based capacity stands at 20.12 GW, lignite at 6.62 GW, and diesel at 0.59 GW, highlighting coal’s continued dominance in the conventional generation mix.
Renewables Drive Capacity Additions
November saw net additions of 4,631.53 MW to India’s generation capacity, with renewables contributing 3,311.53 MW, or more than two-thirds of the total. Thermal capacity additions during the month were 1,320 MW, reflecting a slower pace of growth relative to renewables.
Nuclear Capacity Remains Steady
India’s nuclear power capacity remained unchanged at 8.78 GW, indicating that while new nuclear units are under construction, near-term additions continue to lag behind renewable and thermal growth.
Private Sector Dominates Generation Capacity
Ownership data shows the private sector controls over half of India’s installed capacity, with 278.56 GW, followed by the central sector at 119.22 GW and state utilities at 111.96 GW. This underscores the ongoing trend towards privately owned generation assets across both thermal and renewable segments.
Regional Distribution of Capacity
Capacity remains concentrated in the western, northern, and southern regions, with 173.07 GW, 149.69 GW, and 142.80 GW respectively. The eastern region accounts for 38.78 GW, while the north-eastern region has only 5.24 GW, highlighting persistent regional disparities in generation infrastructure despite overall expansion.
This data underscores India’s ongoing energy transition, with renewables steadily closing the gap with thermal power and shaping the country’s future energy mix.
