India’s installed renewable energy capacity, including large hydro projects, stood at 150.4 GW, accounting for a share of 38.41% in the overall power mix at the end of the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021, according to data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), and Mercom’s India Solar Project Tracker.

The share of renewables increased marginally from the last quarter when the total renewable installations were 148.08 GW, with a share of 38%.

Solar accounts for 12.4% of India’s total installed power capacity and 32% of the total installed renewable capacity as of Q4 2021. This increase in the capacity makes solar the top renewable energy source in India, surpassing large hydro. At the end of Q4 2021, large hydro, with a total capacity of around 46.5 GW, accounted for 11.84% of the total installed power capacity mix.

As of Q4 2021, India had approximately 40 GW of wind power installations, representing around 10.2% of the total installed power capacity. Meanwhile, biomass and small hydro accounted for 2.6% and 1.2% of the cumulative installed power capacity, respectively.

Energy from conventional sources

Conventional power sources have a total installed capacity of nearly 242 GW at the end of Q4 2021. It accounted for 61.59% of the total installed power capacity – a slight decrease from 61.92% in Q3 2021.

The segment included electricity generated from thermal-based sources, including coal (51.7%), gas (6.3%), nuclear (1.7%), lignite (1.7%), and diesel made up 0.13% of the cumulative installed power capacity mix.

Coal continues to lead the way with over 203 GW of installed capacity at the end of Q4 2021, a marginal increase from 202 GW in Q3 2021. However, its overall market share declined slightly to 51.7%, compared to 52% in the previous quarter.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) report, solar power will witness exponential growth and match coal’s share in the Indian power generation mix by 2040 or earlier. The share of coal is expected to decline to 34% in 2040.

Harsh Shukla is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Previously with Indian Express, he has covered general interest stories. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune.

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