India gets most of its energy from coal, which accounts for about 60% of its total energy consumption. Renewable sources, such as wind and solar, are also gaining popularity and contributing to India’s energy mix.
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India primarily relies on coal for the majority of its energy needs, accounting for approximately 60% of its total energy consumption. This fossil fuel has been the backbone of India’s energy sector for decades, providing a reliable source of power for various applications, including electricity generation, industrial processes, and transportation. However, the country has gradually been diversifying its energy mix to include renewable sources like wind and solar.
Renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, has gained significant traction in recent years due to falling costs and government initiatives. India has set ambitious targets for renewable energy adoption, aiming to achieve 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022. In line with this goal, the share of renewable energy in India’s overall energy consumption has been steadily increasing.
According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), India had the world’s fourth-largest installed renewable power capacity in 2020, with solar and wind power accounting for a substantial portion. The report highlights that by the end of 2020, India’s total installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity reached 38.8 GW, while wind power stood at 38.6 GW.
To support the transition to renewable energy, the Indian government has implemented various policies and incentives to promote investment in the sector. In addition, initiatives like the National Solar Mission and the Green Energy Corridors project have been instrumental in fostering the growth of renewable energy infrastructure across the country.
While coal remains a dominant energy source, India’s efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity are helping to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. The shift towards renewables is not only driven by environmental concerns but also by the potential for job creation and improved energy security.
Quote: “Renewable energy is the future for India. It offers sustainable solutions to our growing energy needs while addressing climate change.” – Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.
Interesting Facts:
- India is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, primarily due to its heavy reliance on coal for energy generation.
- Coal-fired power plants in India often face challenges related to air pollution and contribute to the country’s poor air quality.
- The Indian government has set a target of installing 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, emphasizing its commitment to clean energy.
- India has one of the world’s largest renewable energy expansion programs, aiming to achieve a 40% share of installed power capacity from renewables by 2030.
- The country has vast solar and wind energy potential, with several states actively investing in renewable energy projects.
- The use of renewable energy can also help rural electrification efforts in India, providing access to power for remote and underserved areas.
The table below illustrates India’s energy mix:
| Energy Source | Percentage Contribution |
|---|---|
| Coal | 60% |
| Renewable (Solar & Wind) | Increasing share |
| Natural Gas | Moderate |
| Hydroelectric | Moderate |
| Nuclear | Small |
Please note that the data provided above is subject to change as India continues its transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
Video answer
India is striving to switch half of its electricity generation to non-fossil fuel sources by 2030 and build more renewables in a decade than its entire electricity system as it stands today. The country plans to switch to 100% solar-based energy immediately to solve climate change issues. India has increased its solar energy capacity by 17 times in the last seven years and aims to build six of the ten largest solar parks in the world within the next four years. However, the country faces challenges in the supply chain, infrastructure, and public education. Despite these obstacles, if India meets its ambitious solar targets, it could undertake one of the biggest energy transitions ever seen.
Other answers to your question
coalOver 80%of India’s energy needs are met by three fuels: coal, oil and solid biomass.
The highest energy source in India is coal, which accounts for over 80 percent of the country’s energy needs and over 86 percent of the thermal power generation. Coal is the main source of electricity and greenhouse gas emissions in India. As of February 2022, the installed capacity of coal was 205,235 MW, followed by wind, solar and other renewable energy sources with 125,160 MW.
India’s highest energy capacity came from thermal energy, amounting to an installed capacity of over 235 thousand megawatts as of February 2022. Close to 70 percent of the country’s electricity generation was from thermal power plants. Coal dominated power supply with a contribution of over 86 percent through thermal power plants.
Over 80%of India’s energy needs are met by three fuels: coal, oil and solid biomass. Coal has underpinned the expansion of electricity generation and industry, and remains the largest single fuel in the energy mix.
Nearly 80% of total electricity generated (utility and captive) in India is from coal and it is the main source of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to Greenpeace the largest coal belt in India is at Jharia .
- Coal: 205,235 MW (49.3%)
- Lignite: 6,620 MW (1.6%)
- Gas: 24,824 MW (6.0%)
- Diesel: 589 MW (0.1%)
- Hydro: 46,850 MW (11.3%)
- Wind, Solar & Other RE: 125,160 MW (30.1%)
You will most likely be intrigued
Also question is, What is the largest source of energy in India?
Answer to this: Thermal power is the "largest" source of power in India. There are different types of thermal power plants based on the fuel used to generate the steam such as coal, gas, and Diesel, natural gas. About 71% of electricity consumed in India is generated by thermal power plants.
How does India generate most of its electricity? Coal is by far the largest share of dirty fuels. Renewable energy currently contributes about 10% of India’s electricity needs. From 2001 to 2021, India installed 168 gigawatts of coal-fired generation, nearly double what it added in solar and wind power combined, according to an analysis of Ember data.
What provides most of the energy consumed in India? Response: Production capacities per energy source
| Energy source | total in India | Percentage in India |
|---|---|---|
| Fossil fuels | 2.862 tn kWh | 75,5 % |
| Nuclear power | 106.15 bn kWh | 2,8 % |
| Solar energy | 159.22 bn kWh | 4,2 % |
| Wind power | 174.39 bn kWh | 4,6 % |
Also to know is, What is the energy that drives India? Response will be: Solar and wind energy currently contribute more than 50% of the total renewable capacity of the country. According to official data, India had a fully renewable energy capacity of 168.9 GW, including 67.82 GW of solar power and 43.20 of wind power, as of 30th May 2023.
Hereof, What are the major sources of electricity in India? Response will be: India has a diverse power sector ranging from conventional sources like coal, natural gas, oil, hydro and nuclear energy, to unconventional sources including wind, solar, and bio-waste. The demand for electricity has increased significantly through the years and is only expected to grow.
Why is the United States a major source of energy for India? Since 2017, with support from both governments, the United States has become a significant source of energy for India. U.S. crude oil export value to India went from zero to $9.5 billion between 2016 and 2021, and U.S. LNG exports grew from $104 million to $1.7 billion during the same period.
Subsequently, Will India’s electricity demand increase faster than its energy demand?
In reply to that: India’s electricity demand is set to increase much more rapidly than its overall energy demand. But a defining feature of the outlook is a sharp rise in variability – both in electricity output, from solar PV and wind, and in daily consumption.
Is India a major energy importer? The response is: India is net energy importer to meet nearly 47% of its total primary energy in 2019. Coal and lignite production was 73.1 crore (731 million) tons in the financial year 2019-2020. India was the fourth top coal producer in 2017 with 294.2 Mtoe (7.8% global share).
Herein, Is India a good source of energy?
India derives most of its energy from fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil where coal is dominant fuel. Fossil fuel based energy sources are not good for the environment. Burning of coal releases huge amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere and contributes towards adverse effects of climate change.
Also asked, Is India a good place to invest in renewables? The reply will be: Luckily, India is in a position where its GDP is steadily growing, and energy demand is increasing. This is the perfect situation to capitalise on renewables, which will create a stable energy grid and create thousands of skilled jobs. Across Asia, countries are working towards decarbonising their economies.
Furthermore, Will India’s electricity demand increase faster than its energy demand? Answer will be: India’s electricity demand is set to increase much more rapidly than its overall energy demand. But a defining feature of the outlook is a sharp rise in variability – both in electricity output, from solar PV and wind, and in daily consumption.
Beside this, How much solar energy does India generate per year?
The answer is: Solar radiation of about 5,000 trillion kWh per year is incident over India’s land mass, with average daily solar power potential of 0.25 kWh/m 2 of used land area with available commercially proven technologies. As of 31 December 2019, the installed capacity was 33.73 GW, or 2% of utility electricity generation.