India's record renewable generation in July cuts coal's share in power mix to 1-year low

New Delhi: The share of coal in ​India's power-generation mix dropped ​to its lowest in a year in July ​as renewable-power generation surged to a record high, government data showed.

Renewable power jumped to 20% of India's mix, the data showed. It was 36.25 billion kilowatt‑hours (kWh) ‌in July, ⁠up 30% ⁠from the same month last year.

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Coal-power generation fell to 65.7% in July from ​69% in June, according to Reuters calculations of daily data from the regulator, ​Grid-India.

The rise in India's clean-energy generation comes as solar and wind output exceeded 100 gigawatts for the first time and accounted ​for a record 42.8% of India's electricity supply ⁠on July ‌13, government data showed.

Most of the peak power ​demand is ​happening during daytime where there is increased contribution ⁠from solar, said Manoj Kumar, an analyst with ​Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, pointing ​to a rise in renewable share in the country's power generation.

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Coal-fired power generation rose about 12.8% year-on-year to 119.40 billion kWh in July, the data showed.

Analysts attributed the rise in coal-power generation to a fall in hydropower generation and due to a ‌strong El Nino pattern, where searing heat is driving demand for cooling during the nighttime.

Hydropower generation fell for ​a second ​straight month to 22.1% ⁠on lower rainfall due to El Nino, which significantly shifts rainfall patterns and lifts above-normal temperatures.

Lower hydro generation due to El Nino and ​increased demand for power could lead to a power-generation gap of nearly 18 billion kWh and will drive a surge in coal-fired power in India, CREA said.

India's electricity generation in July rose 10.4% from a year earlier to 181.79 billion kWh, data showed.