New Delhi: India has said it does not plan to add any new coal based power capacity beyond 2035 at the moment although future decisions will depend on how fast national electricity demand grows and how well renewable energy systems develop.
A senior power ministry official, Pankaj Agarwal, said the government aims to reach 307 gigawatts of coal power capacity by 2035. After that point, he said there are no immediate proposals to approve additional coal plants.
He explained that the decision depends on several factors including the performance of large scale renewable energy, progress in power storage technologies and the stability of the national grid. India is still working to address challenges such as storing excess clean energy and ensuring reliable power supply during peak demand hours.
Although the government has repeated its commitment to clean energy, some recent reports suggest discussions are underway about possibly extending coal capacity plans beyond 2035 and even up to 2047. Estimates in those discussions suggest India may consider expanding coal to as much as 420 gigawatts if required for energy security.
India has been rapidly expanding renewable power sources including solar and wind. As of early 2025, the country has over 466 gigawatts of installed power capacity, and a record growth in clean energy was reported this year.
Energy analysts say coal remains important because it provides stable electricity, especially when renewable output fluctuates. At the same time, many experts argue that building more coal plants beyond 2035 could become costly and unnecessary as the renewable sector becomes cheaper and more reliable.
The government says it will review the situation regularly. For now, the focus remains on balancing energy security with sustainability goals as electricity demand continues to rise across the country.