8 hrs ago
Low Coal Stocks and Weak Hydro Put Wind in Focus
India needs more electricity, but it has recently had trouble getting enough from some sources.
Hydropower has fallen because reservoirs have had less water, and solar power is harder to use at night without enough batteries.
Coal plants have produced more power, but many are running with low coal stocks or are offline for maintenance.
Wind power is being presented as another way to help meet demand.
India added 6.05 gigawatts of wind capacity in FY26, a record.
Officials expect yearly additions to rise further in the coming years.
A government transmission and storage scheme is also meant to help move and store renewable electricity.
Wind is not described as solving the shortages on its own, but the article identifies it as a growing part of the response.
India’s power deficit reached 560 million kWh in September as demand rose and hydro output weakened.
Coal generation increased 13.3% year-on-year in September, while 84 plants reportedly fell below the 25% normative coal-stock benchmark.
India added a record 6.05 GW of wind capacity in FY26, bringing installed capacity to 59.20 GW by September 30.
Forecasts presented at Windergy India 2026 project annual wind installations rising to 8 GW in FY27 and 13.2 GW by FY30-31.
The government’s Green Energy Corridor Phase-III is intended to expand renewable transmission and support battery storage.
- Who
- India’s power sector and government officials, including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.
- What
- Wind energy is being positioned for rapid expansion as India faces power supply constraints.
- Where
- India.
- When
- The reported shortages occurred in September; expansion forecasts cover FY27 through FY30-31.
- Why
- Rising power demand, weaker hydropower generation, limited battery storage, and low coal stocks have tightened electricity supplies.
Key facts
- September power deficit
- 560 million kWh
- Wind capacity installed by September 30
- 59.20 GW
- Record wind addition
- 6.05 GW in FY26
- Wind capacity target
- 100 GW by 2030
- Projected annual wind installations
- 8 GW in FY27, rising to 13.2 GW by FY30-31
- Wind capacity under construction
- 43 GW, according to official estimates
- Green Energy Corridor Phase-III outlay
- Rs 1,86,405 crore
- Battery storage earmarked under GEC-III
- Rs 50,000 crore for 50 GWh of battery energy storage systems
Quotes
Pralhad Joshi
Union minister quoted on wind capacity and India’s national target
“The impact of El Niño on Hydro reservoir levels is expected to reasonably reduce hydropower generation in India as compared to the previous year. Between April 1 and July 30, hydropower generation has been 10.75% less than that for the corresponding period in 2025.”
financialexpress.com
“India added a record 6+ GW of wind capacity last year and is working towards the ambitious target of 100 GW by 2030”
financialexpress.com








