India targets 874 GW installed power capacity by 2031-32
India's installed power generation capacity is projected to reach 874 GW by 2031-32, up from a current installed base of about 549 GW (5,48,858 MW as of mid-2026), of which non-fossil sources already account for a little over 54%.
Investment is being accelerated across generation, energy storage and grid/transmission infrastructure to meet rapidly growing electricity demand while maintaining supply reliability.
Roughly 1,47,720 MW of renewable capacity — including about 1,19,580 MW solar and 27,720 MW wind — is currently under construction, alongside pumped-storage hydro projects (about 15,870 MW / 95,220 MWh) and battery energy storage systems (about 15,754 MW / 42,530 MWh).
Around 21,080 MW of new thermal capacity has been commissioned since April 2023, with a further 47,545 MW under construction and contracts awarded for another 16,000 MW, indicating thermal power continues to play a balancing role alongside renewables.
Transmission infrastructure expansion of about 1,91,474 circuit-km of lines and 1,274 GVA of transformation capacity is planned to be added between 2022-23 and 2031-32 to support the higher capacity base.
National Electricity Plan and Long-Term Capacity Targets
The National Electricity Plan (NEP), prepared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) under Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003, is India's statutory instrument for projecting power demand and planning generation, transmission and storage capacity over rolling periods (typically a 10-year outlook, revised every 5 years). It has to be aligned with the National Electricity Policy and Tariff Policy, and integrates renewable energy capacity addition targets with conventional (thermal, hydro, nuclear) capacity to ensure demand-supply balance while supporting decarbonisation goals.
Key Details
- The CEA prepares the National Electricity Plan under Section 3 of the Electricity Act, 2003; it must be reviewed/revised at least once every five years.
- The Electricity Act, 2003 consolidated earlier laws (Indian Electricity Act 1910, Electricity (Supply) Act 1948, Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act 1998) and created a unified regulatory-cum-planning framework for generation, transmission, distribution and trading.
- Long-term capacity targets like 874 GW by 2031-32 flow from NEP-style demand projections combined with committed renewable, storage and thermal pipelines.
The 874 GW figure represents the projected total installed capacity implied by current generation, storage and transmission pipelines being tracked under India's electricity planning framework, positioning the target as a benchmark for the country's medium-term power sector trajectory.
India's Climate Commitments — Panchamrit and the 2030 Non-Fossil Target
At COP26 (Glasgow, 2021), India announced a five-part climate pledge known as "Panchamrit": (1) 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030; (2) meeting 50% of energy requirements from renewables by 2030; (3) cutting projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030; (4) reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45% (over 2005 levels) by 2030; and (5) achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. India formally incorporated the 45% emissions-intensity-reduction and 50% non-fossil capacity-share targets into its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted under the Paris Agreement in August 2022.
Key Details
- Panchamrit was announced by India at COP26 in Glasgow on 1 November 2021.
- India's updated NDC (August 2022) formally commits to: 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (vs 2005 levels) by 2030, and 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030.
- As of 2026, India's non-fossil capacity share has already crossed 50% of total installed capacity, achieving this NDC milestone ahead of the 2030 deadline.
- Net-zero target year: 2070.
The push toward 874 GW installed capacity by 2031-32 builds on the fact that India already exceeds its 2030 non-fossil capacity-share NDC target; continued renewable, storage and grid investment sustains this share while capacity scales to meet demand growth.
Energy Storage: Pumped Hydro and Battery Storage Systems
Grid-scale energy storage is essential to integrate variable renewable energy (solar, wind) reliably. Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) use surplus off-peak electricity to pump water to an elevated reservoir, releasing it through turbines during peak demand — a mature, long-duration storage technology. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), typically lithium-ion based, provide faster-response, shorter-duration storage and are being scaled up under government schemes such as viability gap funding (VGF) for BESS announced by the Ministry of Power.
Key Details
- Pumped storage capacity under construction: about 15,870 MW / 95,220 MWh.
- BESS capacity under construction: about 15,754 MW / 42,530 MWh.
- The Ministry of Power has approved viability gap funding schemes to make standalone BESS projects commercially viable, given high upfront capital costs.
The storage pipeline cited alongside the 874 GW target reflects the shift in India's power planning from capacity addition alone to "firm and dispatchable" renewable power, addressing the intermittency challenge as the renewable share of the grid rises.
- Target: 874 GW total installed power generation capacity by 2031-32.
- Current installed capacity: about 549 GW (5,48,858 MW) as of June 30, 2026; non-fossil sources form over 54% of this.
- Renewable capacity under construction: ~1,47,720 MW (solar ~1,19,580 MW + wind ~27,720 MW).
- Storage under construction: pumped hydro ~15,870 MW/95,220 MWh; BESS ~15,754 MW/42,530 MWh.
- Thermal capacity commissioned (April 2023–June 2026): ~21,080 MW; under construction: ~47,545 MW; contracted: ~16,000 MW.
- Planned transmission addition (2022-23 to 2031-32): ~1,91,474 circuit-km of lines and 1,274 GVA transformation capacity.
- India's Panchamrit/NDC target of 50% non-fossil installed capacity by 2030 has already been achieved ahead of schedule.