Power Secretary Forecasts India's Power Demand to Exceed 400 GW by 2031-32
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Power Secretary Forecasts India's Power Demand to Exceed 400 GW by 2031-32

India's Power secretary, Pankaj Agarwal, disclosed that India's peak power demand is anticipated to exceed 400 gigawatts (GW) by the 2031-32 period, surpassing the earlier estimate of 384 GW. Agarwal made these projections while addressing attendees at the CII-Smart Metering Conference, noting a significant rise in power demand across various states over the past two years, suggesting that the initial forecast of 384 GW might have been conservative.

According to Agarwal, "The peak demand we recorded this year at 250 GW is expected to climb to 384 GW by 2031-32. Given current trends, it's likely this estimate will be surpassed."

To meet this escalating demand, India will need a total installed capacity of 900 GW by 2031-32. This requirement underscores the recent decline in power demand following the monsoon season, where demand fell to 206 GW from an anticipated peak of 260 GW by September this year.

These projections align with recent developments in India's power sector, emphasizing the necessity for expanded capacity. The government's target of achieving 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, with substantial contributions from solar and wind energy, underscores its commitment to promoting renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency nationwide.

As of May, India's total installed power generation capacity stood at 444.7 GW, with a significant shift towards non-fossil fuel sources including 242.9 GW of cumulative thermal capacity, 193.6 GW of renewables, and 8.1 GW of nuclear capacity. This transition has been supported by substantial foreign direct investments amounting to US$ 18.17 billion in the power sector through December 2023, fostering growth and innovation within the industry.

India's Power secretary, Pankaj Agarwal, disclosed that India's peak power demand is anticipated to exceed 400 gigawatts (GW) by the 2031-32 period, surpassing the earlier estimate of 384 GW. Agarwal made these projections while addressing attendees at the CII-Smart Metering Conference, noting a significant rise in power demand across various states over the past two years, suggesting that the initial forecast of 384 GW might have been conservative. According to Agarwal, The peak demand we recorded this year at 250 GW is expected to climb to 384 GW by 2031-32. Given current trends, it's likely this estimate will be surpassed. To meet this escalating demand, India will need a total installed capacity of 900 GW by 2031-32. This requirement underscores the recent decline in power demand following the monsoon season, where demand fell to 206 GW from an anticipated peak of 260 GW by September this year. These projections align with recent developments in India's power sector, emphasizing the necessity for expanded capacity. The government's target of achieving 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030, with substantial contributions from solar and wind energy, underscores its commitment to promoting renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency nationwide. As of May, India's total installed power generation capacity stood at 444.7 GW, with a significant shift towards non-fossil fuel sources including 242.9 GW of cumulative thermal capacity, 193.6 GW of renewables, and 8.1 GW of nuclear capacity. This transition has been supported by substantial foreign direct investments amounting to US$ 18.17 billion in the power sector through December 2023, fostering growth and innovation within the industry.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?