LowCarbonPower logo
Instagram Facebook X (Twitter)

Electricity in India in 2024

Global Ranking: #119
22.5% #129 Low-carbon electricity
51.02 % #30 Electrification
1430.77 kWh #140 Generation / person
635.84 gCO2eq/kWh #193 Carbon Intensity

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.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade

Data Sources

For the years 1980 to 1984 the data sources are EIA and IEA (imports/exports).
For the year 1985 the data sources are Energy Institute and IEA (imports/exports).
For the years 1986 to 1989 the data sources are World Bank and IEA (imports/exports).
For the years 1990 to 1998 the data sources are Energy Institute and IEA (imports/exports).
For the year 1999 the data source is IEA.
For the years 2000 to 2002 the data source is Ember.
For the years 2003 to 2015 the data source is IEA.
For the years 2016 to 2017 the data sources are Energy Institute and IEA (imports/exports).
For the years 2018 to 2019 the data sources are Energy Institute and IEA (imports/exports).
For the year 2020 the data source is Energy Institute.
For the years 2021 to 2023 the data sources are Energy Institute and Ember (imports/exports).
For the year 2024 the data source is Ember.
For the months 2024-02 to 2024-12 the data source is IEA.
For the month 2025-01 the data source is Ember.
Instagram Facebook X (Twitter)