India's installed power capacity projected to surpass 2,000 GW by 2047

New Delhi: India's installed electricity generation capacity is projected to cross 2,000 GW by 2047, nearly four times the current levels, driven by a dramatic expansion in clean energy, especially solar power, says a report.

The report, 'India's Power & Energy Transformation Outlook, by the Energy & Climate Initiatives Society (ENCIS) was released on Tuesday during the inaugural session of Bharat Electricity, POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2026 in the capital.

Solar power alone is expected to leap from 119 GW to over 1,100 GW, underscoring the scale of infrastructure, innovation, and policy support required for the nation's Viksit Bharat vision, the report stated.


The inaugural session brought together a distinguished line-up of sector leaders and government dignitaries.

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Speaking on the occasion, Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), said, "India is experiencing phenomenal growth in the power sector, with record annual capacity additions and a rapid shift toward clean energy. But it's not just about adding megawatts; our real challenge now is to build a grid and market architecture that can integrate renewables, storage, and new technologies at scale, ensuring reliability, flexibility, and affordability for a future-ready economy."

The report details how non-fossil sources have already reached 53 per cent of India's 540 GW installed capacity, five years ahead of target, while peak electricity demand has nearly tripled since 2000 and is forecast to reach 366 GW by 2032, a 34 per cent jump, driven by new loads from data centres, e-mobility, and green hydrogen.

The report further highlights that India must nearly triple its renewable energy deployment by 2030, reaching 500 GW of non-fossil capacity while maintaining system reliability.

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Grid-scale storage will need to increase 40-fold to 200 GWh by 2030, marking the most significant infrastructure leap in the sector's history.

The report also notes that nationwide smart meter deployment is on track to reach 250 million units by FY2028, enabling real-time management of 90 per cent of consumer demand and pushing average AT&C losses below 10 per cent nationally for the first time. Although digital reforms have already reduced AT&C losses to 15 per cent, the distribution segment remains a critical bottleneck, with 44 GW of renewables stuck in contract or financing limbo.

Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Chairperson of the Governing Council for Bharat Electricity, POWERGEN India and Indian Utility Week 2026, said, "India's energy transition is now about orchestration, not just expansion. Our next phase will be judged not by the number of gigawatts added, but by whether we build a system that is reliable every hour, affordable for every consumer, flexible under stress, and secure against disruption."

Ashish Sood, Minister of Home, Power, Urban Development and Education, Government of NCT of Delhi, stated that Delhi's experience shows that better management, technology, and investment can fundamentally transform the performance of an urban power system.

Shailesh Kumar, Minister of Energy, Bihar, stated that as India's energy landscape evolves, Bihar is ready to partner with industry and international investors, offering land, infrastructure, and policy support to help shape the next chapter of India's clean energy growth.

The report also highlighted that coal will continue to provide grid stability, with plants needing to operate at 40 per cent minimum technical load and 3 per cent and ramp rates by 2030.

Overall, India's power sector investment requirement is pegged at USD 0.5 trillion by 2030, and more than one million new skilled workers will be needed to deliver the digital and clean energy transformation.

Organised by the ENCIS, the three-day event convenes more than 15,000 professionals, over 250 exhibitors, and 150 global thought leaders from 40 countries.