India's coal-fired power generation did not grow for two years — OilPrice
In India, electricity generation at coal-fired power plants did not grow between the first half of 2024 and the first half of 2026. This is the first two-year period without growth in coal-fired generation in more than 50 years for the world's second-largest coal consumer, OilPrice reports, citing an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air for Carbon Brief.
Record growth in non-fossil generation
Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, noted that from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2026, India recorded the largest increase in electricity generation from non-fossil sources in the country's history.
According to the analysis, the rapid growth of clean energy occurred during a two-year period without an increase in coal-fired generation, although overall electricity demand in the country was rising.
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Coal retains a key role
Despite record growth in clean generation, India continues to invest in fossil fuels. This includes new coal-fired generation capacity, plans to convert coal into chemical products, and expanding domestic production of coking coal for the steel industry.
As of the end of June 2026, 43 gigawatts of coal-fired generation capacity were under construction in the country. Coal capacity in India continues to grow, and coal provides approximately two-thirds of total electricity generation.
Rajnath Ram, an energy adviser at the government think tank NITI Aayog, said late last year that coal would remain an important component of India's energy system over the next two decades. According to him, the question is how environmentally sustainable the country's use of this fuel can be.
