A top​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ official from the Indian Power Ministry confirmed on Sunday that India has no plans for additional coal capacity after 2035. “Our target for coal capacity is 307 gigawatts by 2035,” said Pankaj Agarwal, the power ministry secretary. This is a decision to put the expansion of new coal capacity on hold, as the country now reflects on its energy path and the changing role of clean energy sources.

Balancing Coal and Clean Energy Ambitions

India, which was mostly dependent on coal for 75 per cent of its electricity output, announced earlier this year that it intends to increase coal-based generation capacity from approximately 210 GW to 307 GW by 2035. In addition, it plans to double non-fossil capacity (renewables, nuclear, and hydro) to 500 GW by 2030.

However, the growth of renewables has offset some concerns about grid integration and the storage of surplus clean power. Agarwal said that the 2035 coal capacity goal is still there, but any decision to exceed that limit will depend on consumption patterns and the success of clean energy integration in the grid.

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Economic and Environmental Rationale

Energy experts point out that it might be uneconomical at this point to expand coal capacity beyond the already planned ones. A recent research report by Ember, a global energy think tank, stated that further additions to coal after the current pipeline might lead to under-utilised plants because renewable energy and storage are becoming cheaper and more reliable.

By putting a lid on coal use in 2035 and giving priority to renewables, India would dodge the risk of stranded coal assets and could instead concentrate on upgrading the grid, making it more flexible and developing energy storage solutions, all of which would help a cleaner, more resilient power system.

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What Happens After 2035 Remains Uncertain

The ministry’s announcement about not going beyond 2035 with the coal expansion implies cautiousness about future additions rather than a firm rejection. Agarwal said the determination of future demand and the integration of clean energy over the next three years will decide whether India will have more coal generation capacity after 2035.

At the moment, India seems to be committed to a combination plan that entails the use of coal plants already available until 2035 and the accelerated deployment of renewables, storage, and grid upgrades, so India has no plans for additional coal capacity.

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