India May Raise Coal Power Target to 150 GW
Ghanshyam Prasad announced India may need up to 150 GW of additional coal capacity by 2035 to meet surging electricity demand and falling hydropower output.
India is considering increasing its additional coal-fired power capacity target to between 105 GW and 150 GW by 2035, up from a previous target of 97 GW. Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority, announced the potential revision during an Indian Chamber of Commerce event, citing surging electricity demand and a decline in hydropower generation.
Daily peak electricity demand has risen by 45 GW to 50 GW over the previous year. Weaker monsoon rains contributed to a 20% year-on-year drop in hydropower generation in September 2026, resulting in electricity shortages of 560 million kWh—the highest monthly level since August 2023. In response, Coal India Limited increased September supplies by 12.5% to 61.20 million tonnes, with power sector supplies rising 10.63%.
Prasad clarified that the potential coal expansion does not signal a slowdown in renewable energy development. While India continues to add over 50 GW of renewable capacity annually, including a record 55.29 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity in financial year 2025–26, officials maintain that coal, nuclear power, and pumped-storage hydropower are necessary to ensure grid stability during peak hours when solar output declines.
