The share of coal in India’s total energy generation increased to 79% to 16,906 petajoules(PJ) in 2023-24, about two percentage points more than the previous year, according to data from MoSPI’s Energy Statistics in India 2025.
Coal had always constituted more than 70% of the total energy produced in the country since 2014-15. Coal production also increased 12% in the year under review from 2022-23, when it had grown at a decadal-high pace of 15%. This was among the fastest growth in production in the past decade.
Crude oil’s share has been at 6% in 2023-24. This share has reduced from 2014-15 when it was 11% in 2014-15. Natural gas was 7% of the total energy produced and slid from 9% in 2014-15.
Renewable energy sources have not seen any meaningful increase in share of the total energy produced in the past decade. The share of electricity produced from hydro, solar, nuclear and other renewable sources stood at 7% of the total share. This share was 6% in 2014-15. Share of electricity from renewable sources in total energy production has always been under 10% in the past decade despite an active renewable push from the government of India.
According to the publication, the energy supplied from renewable energy sources has not even doubled in last 10 years. It has grown from 17,682 KToE (kilotonne of oil equivalent) in FY15 to 31,847 KToE in FY24, thus growing at a CAGR if 6.76% over the decade.
The energy generated from solar, wind and others (excluding large hydro) has grown from 6,555 KToE in FY15 to 20,279 KToE during FY24, up 210% in last 10 years.
“The Government of India is committed to enhancing energy access, investing in renewable sources, and improving energy efficiency as part of our vision for a low-carbon economy,” said Saurabh Garg, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation in the foreword.
The estimated potential for generation of energy from renewable resources has reached 21,09,655 MW as on March 31, 2024. The highest potential for generation of energy comes from wind (@ 150 mtr) which is at 11,63,856 MW (55.17%), followed by solar energy 7,48,990 MW (35.50%) and large Hydro 1,33,410 MW (6.32%), as per the publication.
Nearly 26% of India’s coal supply is dependent on imports, the data showed. This has however reduced since 2019-20, when it was at a decadal high of 31%. The import dependence of coal has stayed higher than 25% the past decade. Highest import dependence however is in crude oil with a dependence of 89% and has not seen any meaningful reduction in the past decade. This measure in fact increased from 83.5% in 2014-15.
The data assumes significance in the context of India’s ambition to hit net zero by 2070 going by its COP26 commitments.
Published – March 29, 2025 09:55 pm IST
