Green Energy

CEA Predicts 6-Fold Increase in RE Capacity by 2029-30

FacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterLinkedinLinkedinGmailGmail

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India’s power-planning body, in a report said that India’s renewable energy capacity will sprint ahead and multiply almost six-fold in the next decade, while the share of coal-fired plants in the energy mix will fall to 32% from the current 46%.

The CEA estimates that in the year 2029-30, non-fossil fuel (solar, wind, biomass, hydro & nuclear) based installed capacity is likely to be about 65% of the total installed capacity.

Likely installed capacity by CEALikely installed capacity by CEA

However, the report did add that coal will have a higher share of actual electricity generated because of consistent supply unlike wind and solar, which are erratic in nature during the day. But in generation, coal’s share will fall from 77% to 50% by 2030. Electricity supply from renewable will increase four-fold to 36%, the report said.

“The projected gross electricity generation (BU) during the year 2029-30 is likely to be 2,508 BU comprising of 1,297 BU from Thermal (Coal, Gas and Lignite), 887 BU from Variable RES, 197 BU from Hydro, 101 BU from Nuclear and 26 BU from Biomass” says report.

Power Plants and Power Mix

Coal and lignite plants currently have a total capacity of 200,704 MW, running at 64% utilization. In 2029-30, it is likely to rise to 266,827 MW but the capacity utilization is projected to be a maximum of 55%, on days when green energy supply is relatively low.

Thermal plants would have to run at an even lower utilisation level of 40% on days of heavy generation by renewable energy plants. On such days, green generation would also have to be cut by up to 17%, it said. Gas-fired power plant capacity will be slightly lower than the current 24,937 MW by 2029-30.

The projected mix will be achieved through a five-fold rise in renewable generation capacities, including a near 10-fold rise in solar power capacity, a three-fold rise in wind power capacity, and a 1.5-times rise in nuclear power generation capacity in the next 10 years.

The report also has short term generation dispatch studies on hourly basis to assess the adequacy of various capacities to meet the demand at every instant of time at the lowest possible cost.

To read more click here: ‘Optimal Generation Capacity Mix for the year 2029-30

I am Renew

Recent Posts

India’s Maiden Integrated Green Hydrogen, 2G Ethanol & API project to come up in Himachal Pradesh

In a significant move toward advancing green energy and industrial growth in the state, Himachal…

6 days ago

World’s first biomass-balanced polyethersulfone launched by BASF

Golabl chemical conglomerate BASF has announced that its now offering the world’s first biomass-balanced polyethersulfone…

6 days ago

NDDB ropes in Sustain Plus for 10,000 biogas plants in 15 states

In a crucial stint to bolster the biogas sector and sustainable dairying in the country,…

1 week ago

Middlebrook Solar and BESS Project Moves Forward in Australia

TotalEnergies SE has received approval to proceed with its Middlebrook solar and battery project in…

2 weeks ago

Andhra Chief Minister inaugurates Rs. 1000-cr green hydrogen blending project by Hero Future Energies

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has inaugurated the Rs 1,000-crore green hydrogen plant of…

2 weeks ago

Waste-to-Biogas: BITS Pilani team develops iSTAR technology

The BITS Pilani has developed an innovative solution for managing landfill leachate, domestic septage, and…

2 weeks ago