India's Journey to 50% Clean Energy

India has achieved its 50% clean energy capacity target and done so 5 years ahead of schedule.

However, even though clean energy capacity has increased, actual power generation lags behind.

While fossil fuels/ thermals generate 75-80% of their capacity, renewable sources generate just about 20-25%. A major reason for low generation factors is availability of wind and solar as weather conditions fluctuate through different seasons and time of day. 

Currently, the installed electricity capacity is as follows:

1) Thermal: 242.04 GW (49.9%)

2) Nuclear: 8.78 GW (1.8%)

3) Large Hydro: 49.38 GW (10.2%)

4) Renewables: 184.62 GW (38.1%)

India’s journey to this milestone of installing clean energy is commendable as this ratio has changed considerably in the last decade:

2015:

Thermal Capacity - 188.9 GW  (68.5%)

Renewables & Nuclear - 87.0 GW (31.5%)

2025:

Thermal Capacity - 242.0 GW (49.9%)

Renewables & Nuclear - 242.78 GW (50.1%)

While fossil fuels capacity grew at a CAGR of 2.8% in the last 10 years, non-fossil fuel source capacity grew at 12.1% annually!