New Delhi: India’s power demand is expected to soar to 708 gigawatts by 2047, necessitating a quadrupling of the current capacity to 2,100 gigawatts, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal said at the Brainstorming Session on Indian Power Sector Scenario 2047 in New Delhi. “By 2047, we anticipate our power demand to reach 708 gigawatts. To meet this, we need to increase our capacity by four times, i.e. 2,100 gigawatts,” said the minister, emphasizing the need for a complete transformation of the energy landscape.
The two-day conclave, organized by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) in collaboration with FICCI, CBIP, and other stakeholders, outlined India’s strategy to meet its burgeoning energy needs while transitioning to cleaner energy sources. “This is not just about increasing capacity; it’s about reimagining our entire energy landscape,” Manohar Lal said.
A key focus of the government’s strategy is renewable energy. “We have set an ambitious target of 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, effectively doubling our current capacity,” the minister noted, adding that this aligns with India’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
The CEA launched the National Electricity Plan at the event, which outlines the transmission infrastructure needed to support 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, increasing to over 600 gigawatts by 2032. The plan includes significant investment in advanced technologies, such as integrating 10 gigawatts of offshore wind farms, 47 gigawatts of battery energy storage, and 30 gigawatts of pumped storage plants. The minister highlighted the government’s efforts to secure ₹9 lakh crore in investments for the transmission sector.
Minister of State for Power, Shripad Yesso Naik, underlined the importance of planning for the future. “Significant investment will be needed in renewable technologies, energy storage solutions, and grid modernisation,” he said, calling for a swift transition toward a diverse and cleaner energy mix to meet sustainability targets.
Secretary, Ministry of Power, Pankaj Agarwal, emphasized India’s pivotal role in the global clean energy movement. “The G20 members have resolved to triple renewable energy capacity and double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency,” Agarwal said, adding that the vision of One Sun, One World, One Grid will be central to India’s strategy.
He also highlighted the need for a sixfold increase in storage capacity to meet the future demands of a clean and energy-efficient power grid. “We anticipate a requirement for a sixfold increase in storage capacity,” he added, stressing the need for comprehensive planning and flexible Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to reduce power costs for consumers.
On the challenges of integrating renewable energy into the grid, Manohar Lal explained, “We are exploring innovative technologies in pump storage facilities and battery storage to ensure 24/7 power availability to our citizens.”
Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson of the CEA, presented a roadmap for achieving 1,200 gigawatts of solar power and over 400 gigawatts of wind power by 2047, focusing on hydro pump storage plants, nuclear power, and modernising the grid infrastructure. “We must take a collaborative approach to ensure we meet the vision of a world-class Indian power sector by 2047,” Prasad said.
This ambitious plan aims to position India as a global leader in clean energy and power innovation as the country celebrates its centenary of independence in 2047.
