Archive · 31 Jul 2026
India Targets 86 GW Thermal Power by 2035-36
India wants to build a lot of new coal power plants—about 86 gigawatts—by 2036 so it can keep up with the electricity people need.
Most of that new power is already being built or has been promised, so only a small part still needs to be started.
At the same time, India is adding a lot of clean energy like solar and wind, and now clean energy makes up more than half of all the power it can make.
The new coal plants will be safer and cheaper because they have long‑term contracts that guarantee they will get power to sell and they have secure coal supplies.
India is also spending a lot of money on new power lines and smart technology so all the new power can travel across the country without problems.
India plans to add 86.4 GW of coal‑based thermal capacity by 2035‑36 to meet projected demand.
About 63.5 GW of that capacity is already under construction or awarded, leaving ~23 GW to be planned.
Renewable energy now accounts for 54% of India’s installed capacity, surpassing fossil fuels.
The new thermal build‑out is backed by high long‑term PPA coverage (≈90%) and secured fuel supply agreements.
A Rs 9.16 lakh crore transmission upgrade and grid‑modernisation tools will integrate the new plants into a renewables‑heavy grid.
- Who
- Indian government and power authorities
- What
- Plan to add 86.4 GW of coal‑based thermal capacity
- When
- By 2035‑36
- Where
- India
- Why
- To meet rising electricity demand and maintain grid stability while renewables grow
- Total thermal capacity required by 2035-36
- 86,440 MW
- Thermal capacity already in pipeline
- 63,545 MW
- Renewable share of installed capacity (2026)
- 54.18%
- Transmission investment (2022-32)
- Rs 9.16 lakh crore
- Projected thermal share of installed capacity (FY2032)
- 30%