India must add 225 GW of renewable energy to meet 2031 goals

India needs to add 224.9 GW of renewable energy generation capacity by 2032 to meet the peak demand and energy requirement for the financial year 2031-32, according to the draft National Electricity Plan published by Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Stakeholders have been asked to submit their comments and suggestions by December 5, 2022. India has achieved a cumulative installed renewable energy capacity (including large hydro) of 159.81 GW. The projected all-India electrical energy requirement and peak electricity demand are estimated as 1,874 billion units (BU) and 272 GW for the year 2026-27 and 2,538 BU and 363 GW for 2031-32. The capacity addition required during 2022-27 to meet the peak demand and energy requirement for 2026-27 is 228.54 GW, comprising 40.63 GW of conventional capacity and 187.9 GW of renewable capacity, including large hydro (10.95 GW), solar (132.08 GW), wind (40.5 GW), biomass (2.31 GW), and pumped storage projects (2.7 GW). This estimate excludes 5.85 GW of likely hydro-based imports. The draft states that the estimated renewable energy installed capacity will likely be 344.51 GW by 2026-27 and 569.42 GW by 2031-32. Based on the projections of capacity addition targets from renewable sources by 2026-27 and considering a renewable capacity addition of 224.9 GW between 2027 and 2032, expected electricity generation from various renewable sources has been estimated at 667.2 BU by 2026-27 and 1144.4 BU by 2031-32. The contribution of renewables will be around 35.6% of the country’s total energy in 2026-27 and 45.09% by 2031-32. See also: KPI acquires 4.20 MW wind-solar hybrid power projectSECI to set up energy storage systems; invites R&D proposals