Electricity sector in India

Electricity sector of India
Data
Electricity coverage99.94% (31 March 2019)[1]
Installed capacity441,970 MW[2]
Production (FY2024)1,948.956 TWh[3]
GHG emissions from electricity generation (2018)2,309.98 million metric tons of CO2[4]
Average electricity use (FY2024)1,395 kWh per capita[5]
Transmission & Distribution losses (FY2022-23)17.68%[3]
Consumption by sector
(% of total)
Residential25.77%[6] (FY2022)
Industrial41.16%[6] (FY2022)
Agriculture17.67%[6] (FY2022)
Commercial8.29%[6] (FY2022)
Traction1.53%[6] (FY2022)
Tariffs and financing
Average residential tariff
(US$/kW·h, Dec. 2020)		₹5.75 (6.9¢ US)[7]
Average commercial tariff
(US$/kW·h, Dec. 2020)		₹8.64 (10¢ US)[7]
Services
Share of private sector in generation33.46% (FY2020)[8]
Institutions
Responsibility for policy-settingMinistry of Power
Responsibility for renewable energyMinistry of New and Renewable Energy
Responsibility for the environmentMinistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Electricity sector lawElectricity Act, 2003

India is the third largest producer of electricity in the world.[9] During the fiscal year (FY) 2023–24, the total electricity generation in the country was 1,949 TWh, of which 1,734 TWh was generated by utilities.[3]

The gross electricity generation per capita in FY2023-24 was 1,395 kWh.[3] In FY2015, electric energy consumption in agriculture was recorded as being the highest (17.89%) worldwide.[8] The per capita electricity consumption is low compared to most other countries despite India having a low electricity tariff.[10]

The Indian national electric grid has an installed capacity of 442.0 GW as of 31 March 2024.[2] Renewable energy plants, which also include large hydroelectric power plants, constitute 43% of the total installed capacity.

India’s electricity generation is more carbon-intensive (713 grams CO2 per kWh) than the global average (480 gCO2/kWh), with coal accounting for three quarters of generation in 2023.[11][12][13][14]

The government declared its efforts to increase investment in renewable energy. Under the government's 2023-2027 National Electricity Plan, India will not build any new fossil fuel power plants in the utility sector, aside from those currently under construction.[15][16] It is expected that non-fossil fuel generation contribution is likely to reach around 44.7% of the total gross electricity generation by 2029–30.[17]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference hhe was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Executive Summary of Power Sector, March 2024". Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference exmaa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "IEA India". Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference gr23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference esi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b "India electricity prices, December 2020". GlobalPetrolPrices.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Growth of Electricity Sector in India from 1947–2020" (PDF). Central Electricity Authority. October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  9. ^ "BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2021 (page 63)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Tariff & duty of electricity supply in India". report. CEA, Govt. of India. March 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Report - Global Electricity Report 2024 (page 131)". EMBER. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  12. ^ "India - Countries & Regions". IEA. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Koyala Darpan / Coal Dashboard". Archived from the original on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  14. ^ "Global electricity review-India". 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  15. ^ "National Electricity Plan, 2022-27" (PDF). September 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  16. ^ Arasu, Sibi (1 June 2023). "Next green leader? India halts new coal plant construction". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Optimal generation capacity mix" (PDF). CEA, Govt. of India. January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2020.