Electricity in India in 2024
In 2024, India's electricity generation remains heavily skewed towards fossil fuels, with more than three-quarters of its electricity coming from these sources, primarily driven by coal, which alone makes up around 75%. Meanwhile, electricity from low-carbon sources is just over 20%, with hydropower at around 8%, solar energy providing close to 7%, and wind contributing about 4%. Although gas and nuclear energy each constitute approximately 3%, biofuels contribute a smaller share. This distribution highlights the substantial room for growth in low-carbon electricity generation to reduce reliance on coal and consequently lessen the negative environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels.
Suggestions
To boost its clean energy generation, India can learn from countries with leading low-carbon electricity portfolios. For starters, India's potential in solar power could be expanded by looking at nations like Lebanon, Chile, and Greece, where solar electricity generation reaches or surpasses 20%. Furthermore, scaling up nuclear energy can be informed by countries such as Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, each having achieved around 13-20% of their electricity generation from nuclear sources. Adding wind energy also offers promise, and insights can be drawn from countries like the Netherlands, the UK, and Germany, where wind contributes more than a quarter of electricity. By strategically leveraging these insights, India can diversify its low-carbon energy mix and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
History
Over the past decades, India has witnessed various shifts in its low-carbon electricity landscape. Notable growth periods include the late 1980s and late 1990s when hydropower generation saw significant increases. The new millennium brought more growth in hydropower especially in the mid-2000s, albeit followed by a sudden decline in 2012. Beginning in 2017, India saw a surge in solar power, with substantial annual increases, notably in 2022 and again in 2024. Similarly, wind energy experienced a boost in 2023. However, while nuclear energy hasn't shown major jumps in recent years, it remains a stable part of the energy mix and represents a crucial area for future growth in helping meet sustainability goals. Embracing solar, wind, and an expanded role for nuclear energy will be essential for India's clean energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.