New Delhi: India’s Electricity Generation Hits Highest Level Since Last Year
In April, India generated 167.61 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, marking the highest output since May 2024. This surge is expected to continue as rising temperatures drive record demand for power, according to a Reuters analysis of daily data released by the government.
With forecasts suggesting a strong El Niño effect, hotter and drier weather is anticipated across Asia. Already, peak power demand reached a record high of 256.1 GW on April 25, as reported by Grid-India. Expectations are that this demand will rise even further, possibly hitting around 270 GW during the hottest months of May and June.
On a year-on-year basis, electricity generation in India increased by 5.3% in April, according to data from the federal grid regulator, Grid-India.
Renewable Energy’s Growing Role
Renewable energy contributed significantly to the power mix, accounting for 16.5%, the highest level since July 2025. In April alone, the nation produced 27.58 billion kWh of renewable energy, a 22.3% increase compared to the same month last year.
Debabrata Ghosh, Head of India at Aurora Energy Research, emphasized that systems relying heavily on solar energy can effectively meet peak demands during the day. However, he noted the need for enhanced power storage solutions to tackle demand spikes, especially when solar energy is not available.
The India Meteorological Department reported that many regions experienced maximum temperatures between 40 to 45 degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) in April. The government expressed confidence in meeting the anticipated 270 GW peak demand.
Coal and Gas Generation Trends
Coal-fired power generation rose by 2.6% year-on-year, reaching 121.34 billion kWh in April, marking its fastest growth rate since December. Despite this increase, coal’s share of total electricity production fell to 72.4% from 74.3% a year earlier as renewable energy capacity expanded.
Hydropower production also saw an increase of 11.8%, reaching 11.46 billion kWh. Meanwhile, gas-based power generation declined by about 33% from the previous year, largely due to rising fuel prices and supply issues tied to the Middle East crisis.
Despite the overall decline, usage of gas-fired capacity surged during peak demand periods. In the last week of April, gas-based generation increased to approximately 9.6 GW, a significant leap from the nearly 2 GW at the start of the month, demonstrating its role as a crucial backup power source.
