Coal-based power capacity to rise to 315 GW by 2035-36; no new gas, ICB plants planned: Naik to RS

Coal-based capacity is projected to reach 315 GW by 2035-36; no new gas or imported-coal plants planned, MoS Power told Parliament

Coal-based power capacity to rise to 315 GW by 2035-36; no new gas, ICB plants planned: Naik to RSEnergy Watch

Published on:

20 Jul 2026, 4:15 pm

New Delhi: India's coal-based power capacity is projected to increase to 315 GW by 2035-36, Minister of State (MoS) for Power Shripad Yesso Naik told the Rajya Sabha on Monday, adding that no new gas-based or imported coal-based plants have been planned. Naik set out the figures in a written reply, on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, to a question on strengthening the country's energy security and reducing dependence on imported fuel.

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Govt facilitating trial use of domestic coal at ICB plants

The minister added that, in coordination with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), it has facilitated the trial use of domestic coal at imported coal-based (ICB) plants through blending, to cut dependence on imported coal while maintaining reliable generation.

Non-fossil share past 54% of installed capacity

As on June 30, the country's total installed generation capacity stood at 5,48,858 MW (about 549 GW), Naik said. Of this, fossil-fuel sources — coal and lignite, gas and diesel — accounted for 2,51,489 MW, or 45.82 percent, while non-fossil sources — solar, wind, hydro, nuclear and biomass — made up 2,97,369 MW, or 54.18 percent.

During 2025-26, he said, India added around 55.3 GW of non-fossil generation capacity, including 44.6 GW of solar and 6.1 GW of wind.

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Domestic coal production likely to grow 6-7% annually over next few years: Kishan Reddy

Targets ahead: 500 GW non-fossil by 2030, 100 GW nuclear by 2047

The government has plans to reach 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based installed generation capacity by 2030, Naik said. He added that the government has set a target of 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047, describing nuclear as a base-load source relevant to the country's clean-energy transition towards net zero by 2070.

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