Whalesbook
Renewable Surge Hits Record Highs
India's renewable power generation surged by a record 98 terawatt-hour (TWh) in 2025, doubling the previous high. This leap was driven mainly by solar and wind energy, which both set new year-on-year records. Solar power generation increased by 53 TWh, a 37% rise, while wind energy climbed by 22 TWh, marking a 28% increase.
Aditya Lolla, managing director of Ember, the energy think tank, stated that solar power is the main driver in India's evolving power system. He emphasized that solar, combined with battery storage, is clearing a fast path for round-the-clock clean power, boosting India's energy security and resilience against global shocks.
Coal Generation Declines Amidst Growth
This increase in renewables helped cut India's coal generation by 44 TWh in 2025. Lower-than-average demand growth also played a part in this decrease. Despite this reduction, coal remains the main source of India's electricity generation.
Coal's Persistent Dominance
Last year, coal provided 71% of India's electricity. This is much higher than the Asian average of 52% and the global average of 33%. Over the past decade, coal generation has grown by 468 TWh, a 46% increase. India continues to be the world's second-largest coal generator, following only China. This shows the complex, mixed path of India's energy transition.