India’s data-centre capacity could increase to 24–26 GW from less than 2 GW currently, although its share of overall electricity demand is expected to remain limited, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad said. He added that the projected expansion had already been incorporated into the country’s future power demand estimates and that generation capacity was being developed accordingly.

Prasad said maintaining adequate generation capacity remained the priority for the power sector, as demand from consumers would need to be met without shortages. He was speaking on the sidelines of an event on making India’s power sector artificial intelligence enabled in New Delhi.

India’s installed renewable energy capacity has crossed 300 GW and reached 308 GW, according to Prasad. The country is expected to reach around 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, while plans for 2035–36 target approximately 800 GW.

Prasad also said energy storage infrastructure was gaining momentum and would develop rapidly. He described storage as an area that was progressing rather than a constraint for the sector. The expansion of storage is expected to support the integration of renewable energy and help maintain system reliability as intermittent generation increases.

He further highlighted the need to accelerate smart-meter deployment across the electricity network. Smart meters would provide visibility of consumption and generation from the consumer level through to power generation, while also helping load dispatchers track rooftop solar installations, whose adoption is increasing. The improved flow of information would support more effective monitoring and management of electricity across the grid.