Thermal Power Capacity Expansion in India

The Indian government is experiencing delays in commissioning new thermal power projects, impacting its capacity addition targets for the fiscal year.

Current Status and Targets

• Target for FY: 15,000 MW of thermal power capacity.
• Projected addition by end of fiscal year: Approximately 8,000 MW.
• Thermal units added in FY24: Around 6 GW.
• Commissioned units so far in the current fiscal: Two units totaling 1,320 MW in December.

Challenges and Delays

• Delays due to: 
  1. Land acquisition issues.
  2. Balance of plant work.
  3. Supply of materials.
• Under-construction thermal capacity: About 30 GW, expected to be commissioned in the next 4-5 years.

Long-Term Goals and Energy Consumption

• Target by FY32: Add 80 GW of thermal power capacity and 500 GW of renewable energy.
• Energy requirement growth: 
  1. FY22: 8.2% year-on-year increase.
  2. FY23: 9.7% growth.
  3. FY24: 7.4% increase.
  4. FY25 (Till November): 4.4% increase to 1.15 trillion units.

Future Energy Mix

• 50% of India's cumulative electric power to come from non-fossil resources by 2030.
• Thermal power contribution to installed capacity: 
  1. Currently: 52.9%.
  2. By FY27: Expected to fall to 42.6%.
  3. By FY32: Projected to drop to 31.6%.

The shift is driven by expected higher capacity additions in clean energy sources, even as base load power remains dependent on coal-based and nuclear sources.