India's clean energy boom halts coal power growth for first time in 50 years

September 18, 2026 at 03:30 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

India's coal power generation remained flat between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2026, the first such two-year period in over 50 years, according to a CREA analysis for Carbon Brief. Non-fossil power generation saw its largest increase on record during that period, even as electricity demand grew. India still has 43 GW of coal capacity under construction as of June 2026.

Key Facts

India's coal power generation was flat between H1 2024 and H1 2026, the first such two-year period in over 50 years.
Non-fossil power generation in India saw its largest increase on record during that period.
India had 43 GW of coal-power capacity under construction as of the end of June 2026.
Coal accounts for about two-thirds of India's total power output.

Record Clean Energy Growth

The period from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2026 saw the largest increase in non-fossil power generation on record in India. Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), wrote the analysis for Carbon Brief. The clean energy boom led to the first time in more than 50 years that India has seen no growth in coal power generation over a two-year period, even as electricity demand grew overall.

Coal Expansion Continues

Despite the record clean energy growth, India continues to pursue major capital investments in fossil fuels, including new coal-power capacity, plans for conversion of coal-to-chemicals, and efforts to boost domestic coking coal production for the steel sector. A total of 43 gigawatts (GW) of coal-power capacity was under construction in India as of the end of June 2026, according to the analysis. Overall coal-fired capacity installations in India continue to rise, and coal remains a key pillar of India's electricity mix - about two-thirds of total power output. Despite booming renewable capacity additions, India continues to rely on coal to meet most of its power demand as authorities also look to avoid blackouts in cases of severe heat waves. Coal will still be a key part of India's power system for the next two decades, Rajnath Ram, adviser for energy at the government policy think tank, NITI Aayog, said at the end of last year.