India met ~33% of 256 GW peak power demand through renewables, says Joshi

New Delhi: Nearly one-third of India’s record peak electricity demand of over 256 GW earlier this month was supplied by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydro, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. India recorded its highest-ever peak power demand of 256.11 GW on April 25, 2026, according to Ministry of Power data.

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Speaking at the Resilient Futures Summit organised by Economist Enterprise, the minister for new and renewable energy said that around one-third of the electricity generated at peak demand on that day came from renewable sources.

That itself showcases that India is capable of generating and India is capable of handling peak power demand through renewable energy, he pointed out.

Focus on strengthening systems to support higher renewable share

Joshi said the government is working on multiple fronts to support rising demand and renewable integration, including investments in grid modernisation and digitisation. He said technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital twins are also being deployed to strengthen system operations.

"I think in the coming days...the generation capacity will also increase," he said.

He added that efforts are underway to ensure that installed capacity is effectively translated into actual generation, along with improvements in transmission, to increase the share of renewable energy in the power mix.

Record demand met without shortage, exports continued

The Ministry of Power on Tuesday said, "India has successfully met its all-time highest peak electricity demand of 256.1 GW on 25th April 2026 at 15:38 hrs without any shortage, while simultaneously maintaining electricity exports to neighbouring countries".

The ministry said the peak requirement was met through a combination of thermal, hydro, nuclear and renewable sources, ensuring grid stability and reliability during high demand conditions.

Renewable energy, particularly solar, played a key role, supported by hydro and other flexible sources, the ministry said.

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Solar leads renewable contribution at peak demand

According to the ministry, solar accounted for 21.5 percent of generation at the time of peak demand of 256.1 GW on April 25. Hydro contributed 4.4 percent, while wind added 1.9 percent. Nuclear power contributed 2.4 percent and gas-based generation added 2 percent.

Thermal power remained the dominant source, accounting for 66.9 percent of total generation, the ministry said.

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