India’s Renewable Energy Generation Records 14.77% Growth: Energy Statistics India 2025

New Delhi, April 1 (KNN) India's estimated potential for renewable power generation has reached 2,109,655 MW as of March 31, 2024 recording a growth of 14.77 percent, according to the Energy Statistics India 2025 report released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Wind energy holds the largest share at 55.17 percent (1,163,856 MW), followed by solar energy at 35.5 percent (748,990 MW).

Large hydro contributes 6.32 percent (133,410 MW), while other sources including biomass (28,447 MW), cogeneration from bagasse (13,818 MW), and small hydro (21,134 MW) account for the remainder.

The report indicates that India's installed capacity for electricity generation, combining utility and non-utility sources, has reached 521.31 GW as of March 31, 2024, representing a 5.43 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Despite the advancement in renewable capacity, coal continues to serve as India's primary energy source. Domestic coal production reached 997.83 million tonnes in FY 2023-24, marking an 11.71 percent increase from 893.19 million tonnes in FY 2022-23.

Non-coking coal represents the majority of this production at 93.3 percent.

The country's coal reserves stand at 389.42 billion tonnes, with nearly 70 percent concentrated in three states: Odisha (25.47 percent), Jharkhand (23.58 percent), and Chhattisgarh (21.23 percent).

Gross electricity generation from all sources reached 1,948,956 GWh in FY 2023-24, showing a 6.5 percent increase compared to the previous fiscal year.

Generation from renewable energy sources alone rose to 370,320 GWh, up from 205,608 GWh in FY 2014-15, demonstrating a compound annual growth rate of 6.76 percent over the decade.

India's refining capacity stood at 256.82 million tonnes per year as of March 31, 2024. The country operates 23 refineries, with 19 in the public sector and four in private or joint venture categories.

The report also highlighted that India's total primary energy supply increased by 7.8 percent in FY 2023-24, reaching 903.16 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

Coal constituted the largest portion at 60.21 percent, followed by crude oil at 29.83 percent and natural gas at 6.99 percent.

The country's estimated crude oil reserves total 671.40 million tonnes, with the Western Offshore region holding 32 percent, Assam 22 percent, Rajasthan 19 percent, and Gujarat 18 percent.

Natural gas reserves amount to 1,094.19 billion cubic meters, primarily located in Western Offshore (31 percent), Eastern Offshore (24 percent), and Assam (15 percent).

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency's Renewable Capacity Statistics 2024, India ranks fourth globally in renewable energy installed capacity and wind power capacity, while securing fifth position in solar power capacity.

The government has established ambitious targets to install 500 GW of non-fossil-based power capacity by 2030, aiming to meet 50 percent of the country's electricity requirements from renewable sources.

(KNN Bureau)