IEA says India is the fastest growing energy market in the world

IEA says India is the fastest growing energy market in the world

PW Bureau

India's investment in the energy sector grew at a rate of 12 percent in 2018 — the highest growth rate as compared to any other country, according to the IEA

New Delhi: India has now become the fastest growing energy market in the world, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The country's investment in the energy sector grew at a rate of 12 percent in 2018 — the highest growth rate as compared to any other country, according to the IEA. "Among major areas, energy investment has risen most rapidly in India the past three years, up 12 percent," The IEA said in its latest World Energy Investment (WEI) 2019 report.

Renewable spending exceeded fossil fuel-based power

"In 2018, renewable spending continued to exceed that of fossil fuel-based power, supported by tendering for solar PV, and from 2017 wind, amid uncertain financial attractiveness of new coal power, though spending in coal supply rose somewhat. While transmission spending is expanding, investment in the distribution has not grown."

Fastest investment growth came from India

The report said that the lower-middle and low-income countries accounted for less than 15 percent of the energy investment in 2018 despite containing well over 40 per cent of the world's population. "In recent years, the fastest investment growth within this group has come from India with rising power sector spending, while spending in sub-Saharan Africa has declined, mostly due to less investment in fuel supply," the report said.

'For first time, solar PV spending exceeded coal power in India'

The IEA's WEI report — among the most credible publications in the energy space globally — also said that India is an emerging source of industrial energy efficiency investment in the Asia and Pacific region, which grew by nearly 5 percent (in 2018). Modernisation of industrial facilities coupled with strong mandatory government policy, through the Perform, Achieve, Trade (PAT) Scheme, are important factors driving greater levels of investment.

"In India, solar PV spending exceeded that of coal power for the first time, supported by government auctions. Total renewable power investment topped fossil fuel-based power for the third year in a row, supported by tendering and uncertain financial prospects for new coal power. Grid investment rose by 4 per cent, with a one-fifth increase in transmission, but spending in distribution remained flat," the report said.

The IEA also said that India was the largest market for coal-fired power (based on Final Investment Decision) in 2018, which is now largely oriented towards super-critical technology, but levels were 80 percent lower than in 2010.

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