May 7, 2025 - India’s power sector recorded robust growth in March 2025, with total electricity generation reaching 160.4 BU, a 13% jump MoM and an 8% rise YoY.

Leading this surge was thermal power, especially coal-based generation, which alone contributed 122.66 BU, accounting for over 76% of the country’s total output for the month.

Thermal generation saw an 11% MoM and 3% YoY increase, reaffirming coal’s continued dominance in India’s energy mix despite the ongoing global shift toward cleaner alternatives.

The spike aligns with seasonal demand and higher electricity consumption as temperatures climb across the country.

Hydropower and renewables also made notable gains. Hydro generation increased 26% MoM, while renewable energy (RES) output rose 20% MoM, underscoring seasonal advantages and expanded capacity.

Nuclear generation, though a smaller contributor in absolute terms, posted the highest YoY jump at 19%, showing steady growth momentum.

As of March 2024, India’s installed power capacity stood at 475.21 GW, with thermal sources making up 57% of the total. Coal alone accounted for 215.19 GW, cementing its position as the bedrock of India’s energy security.

While the government continues to aggressively add renewable capacity, coal remains indispensable for meeting India’s baseload demand.

The data for March 2025 highlights that until scalable storage or base-load renewable solutions mature, coal will continue to shoulder the lion’s share of India’s electricity needs.