Representative picture | Photo Credit: Hind
India may have achieved an important milestone of 50% of its total electric energy capacity of approximately 484 gigawatts, from sources of not fossil fuels, although publicly available data show that the share of pure energy in the actually supplied electricity is below 30%.
“India has achieved a landmark in its energy transition route by achieving 50% of its installed electrical capacity from non-tuggling sources before the aim set under its national contributions (NDC) to the Paris Agreement,” said Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy this week. “This important milestone underlines the permanent commitment of the country to measures and sustainable development and signals that the transition of pure energy in India is not only real, but also accelerates under the leadership of Shri Narendry Modi.”
In 2014, the share of renewable energy sources – solar, wind, biomass, hydro power (small and large) and nuclear energy – about 30% of the installed electricity in India. K 30th June 2025 – according to the center – increased to 50%. However, the share of electricity produced from these sources increased from 17% in the period 2014–15 to 28% in the period 2024 to May 2025.
Certainly, the quantum of pure energy (non-fossil) produced annually increased relatively significantly from 190 billion units between 2014–15 and 460 billion units in 2024-25.
Experts say that, despite the increase in pure energy, a slower increase in the use of pure energy was caused by the “CAF use factor”, which is the rate of how much energy available was. Cuf values for pure energy were lower than for coal or nuclear sources. “While the solar and wind now make up a large share in the installed capacity, their cuf is much lower. Solar has a Cuf approximately 20% and around 25-30% in the wind, compared to 60% coal or 80% nuclear.
The requirement for the basic load or strength available during the day is largely provided by coal, which accounts for about 75% of the Indian energy mix. While there was an increase in the use of solar energy and alleviating coal demand during the day, especially in the summer, in the evening was not available.
“To improve the use of solar energy, we need two things: flexibility in the grid and improved battery storage. Right now we pay the same (per unit) for electricity, whether night or day. As in the first days of telecommunications, when night calls were cheaper, we must experiment with differential grin.”
However, this will require intelligent networks and better management, ”said Saurabh Kumar, vice president, Global Energy Alliance for humans and planet, and energy expert,” we have several programs on which he works and expect a significant improvement in the next or two years. “
In the following days, there is an increase in “hybrid” energy projects that combine solar, wind, hydro and storage elements to suit the growing Indian peak and continuous energy needs forward, says a political comment from the Institute for the Energy Economy and Financial Analysis. “When these hybrids are paired with battery storage, these hybrids can store excess energy and release it during top hours of demand, especially in the evening.
Published – 16 July 2025 22:59
