Archive · 19 Jan 2026
Thermal Power Share Drops Below 70% in India
In India, the share of electricity generated from coal-fired plants is expected to drop below 70% in the next fiscal year.
This is happening because the demand for power is growing slowly, and there is a big increase in electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind.
The use of coal plants is also expected to decrease.
However, coal plants are still important for keeping the power grid stable.
Many of these plants have long-term agreements to sell their power, which helps them make money even if they are used less.
The companies that own these plants have less debt now, but some are planning to build more coal plants, which might increase their debt slightly in the future.
Thermal power's share in India's electricity generation is expected to fall below 70% in the next fiscal.
Plant load factors (PLFs) for coal-based plants are projected to moderate to 64–66% in the current and next fiscal.
Renewable energy generation is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 18–20% over the current and next fiscal.
Nearly 85% of the 60 GW operational capacity held by independent power producers (IPPs) is tied up under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Debt-to-Ebitda ratio for rated IPPs declined from around seven times in fiscal 2020 to 2.2 times in fiscal 2025, but is expected to peak at around three times by fiscal 2029.
- Who
- Crisil Ratings, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Distribution Utilities
- What
- Decline in thermal power share and increase in renewable energy generation
- When
- Current fiscal and next fiscal
- Where
- India
- Why
- Slower power demand growth, acceleration in renewable energy generation, and weather-related factors
- Thermal Power Share
- Below 70% in next fiscal
- Plant Load Factors (PLFs)
- 64–66% in current and next fiscal
- Power Demand Growth
- 1–2% this fiscal, 4–6% next fiscal
- Renewable Energy Growth
- 18–20% compound annual rate
- Renewable Capacity Additions
- 75–85 GW
- PPAs Signed by IPPs
- 85% of 60 GW operational capacity
- Debt-to-Ebitda Ratio
- 2.2 times in fiscal 2025, expected to peak at 3 times by fiscal 2029