India’s heatwave pushes fossil fuel production to record levels despite renewable energy surge

India has boosted electricity production from coal and gas to meet unprecedented demand for electricity during a heatwave in May and June. The surge underscores the country’s reliance on fossil fuels despite rapid growth in renewable energy capacity.

The transmission network handled a record 309 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power loads during the two months, a significant increase compared to previous years. Coal-fired generation increased to 233 billion kWh, while gas-fired generation reached 10 billion kWh, the highest since 2020.

Extensive planning and resource pooling ensured grid reliability even as demand for air conditioning and refrigeration surged. Power plants in India operated at peak capacity, aided by improved coal and gas supplies, keeping the transmission network stable and reducing periods of grid frequency shortfall.

(Based on information from the agency.)