Language
Country/Area
No result found
From Kolkata to Mumbai: How did India's electricity evolve from a bright show to a national energy source?
As the third largest electricity producer in the world, India’s power system has a long history and development but is also full of challenges. Since the first demonstration of electric light in Calcutta in 1879, India's electricity supply network has undergone significant transformation, from its early experimental nature to today's nationwide energy infrastructure.
According to official data, India's total electricity generation in the fiscal year 2023-2024 is as high as 1,949 terawatt hours, of which 1,734 terawatt hours are generated by utilities.
Although India's electricity penetration rate is gradually increasing, per capita electricity consumption is relatively low. In 2023, India's per capita electricity usage will be 1,395 kilowatt hours, while the global average in the same year is 2,600 kilowatt hours, showing India's continued growth potential in electricity consumption.
In terms of power supply structure, as of March 31, 2024, the installed capacity of India's national grid will reach 442.0 GW, and renewable energy will account for 43% of the total capacity. However, the current production method is still highly dependent on coal, with two-thirds of electricity generated from coal, which poses environmental challenges to the country.
"India's electricity production is 713 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour, which is much higher than the global average."
Historical review
On July 24, 1879, Calcutta realized electric lighting for the first time, and the introduction of electricity in India quickly expanded to Bombay. The first demonstration of electric lighting took place in Mumbai's Crawford Market in 1882 and further developed in 1905 with the establishment of the Bombay Electricity and Tramway Company (BEST).
After the 20th century, with the advancement of technology, India's power network continued to expand. The regional network interconnection that began in the 1960s formed today's national power grid. By the end of 2013, the southern district power grid and the central power grid were synchronously connected, forming a unified national power supply network.
"Although India has made significant progress in renewable energy and electricity supply, it still faces the dual challenges of environmental pollution and energy security."
Electricity installed capacity and demand
Data as of March 2023 show that India's total installed power generation capacity has reached 495.2 GW, becoming a key part of global energy supply. Although the government plans to increase the proportion of renewable energy, it will still need to rely on coal to meet the growing demand for electricity in the short term. According to forecasts, India's peak power demand will reach 272 GW in fiscal year 2026-2027.
Factors affecting demand include electricity access among Indian households. As of April 2018, India had fully electrified 597,464 villages, demonstrating the government's efforts in improving energy infrastructure.
“According to estimates from the International Energy Agency, India will add 600 GW to 1,200 GW of new power generation capacity by 2050.”
Clean energy and challenges
While renewable energy is growing, India's reliance on coal power remains significant. In 2021, 60% of India's electricity will come from coal-fired power generation, which puts the country under tremendous pressure in combating climate change. Market changes in recent years, especially the fluctuations in global energy prices, have put India's energy policy to the test.
The government's "Power for All" plan has promoted the improvement of power infrastructure, but as power demand grows, how to balance the development of traditional energy and renewable energy has become a major challenge for policymakers.
"All government plans and policies must ultimately face a trade-off between actual needs and environmental protection."
Today, as the global call for sustainable energy continues to rise, how will India find a balanced path between meeting domestic power needs and promoting environmental protection?
