States to play key role as India's peak electricity demand to reach 446 GW by 2034-35: Manohar Lal

IANS June 24, 2025 354 views

India's power demand is set to surge to 446 GW by 2034-35, requiring coordinated efforts between states and the Centre. The country has already met a record 250 GW demand this year, showcasing its transition from power-deficit to power-sufficient. States must diversify energy sources, including nuclear and renewables, while upgrading transmission infrastructure. Cybersecurity and financing innovations are also critical for a resilient power grid.

"The peak demand is projected to rise further, reaching approximately 270 GW later this year. This reflects India’s transformation from a power-deficit to a power-sufficient nation" – Manohar Lal
Patna, June 24: India’s peak electricity demand is projected to reach 446 GW by 2034–35 and meeting this sustainably requires proactive planning and continued coordination between the Centre, states and other stakeholders, Power Minister Manohar Lal said on Tuesday.

Key Points

1

India met 250 GW peak demand in May 2024

2

Renewable energy share rose from 32% to 49% since 2014

3

States urged to adopt nuclear and storage solutions

4

Rs 1.5 lakh crore allocated for transmission upgrades

States should promote renewable energy coupled with energy storage systems in order to ensure the reliability of the supply of power, he said during the Regional Conference for the Eastern Region States/UTs in the Bihar capital.

India successfully met a peak power demand of 250 GW in May 2024 and 242 GW thus far in 2025.

"The peak demand is projected to rise further, reaching approximately 270 GW later this year. This reflects India’s transformation from a power-deficit to a power-sufficient nation," the minister said.

He outlined the importance of continuous cooperation and coordination between the Central and state governments in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Manohar Lal mentioned that India’s power system has evolved into a unified national grid, fulfilling the vision of ‘One Nation-One Grid’, and underlined the importance of a future-ready, modern, and financially viable power sector to fuel the country's growth.

He laid emphasis on ensuring resource adequacy and necessary power generation capacity tie-ups.

"While formulating their resource adequacy plans, states should also ensure a balanced and diversified power generation mix. This should include the addition of nuclear generation capacity, with an aim to establish at least one nuclear power project in each state," the Power Minister said.

He emphasised that the states should work towards resolving the issues faced in the development of intra-state transmission projects, including Right of Way (RoW) issues.

States should explore diverse options for financing, including listing of transmission utilities and funding from multilateral institutions.

The minister informed that in the Union Budget 2025-26, allocation of Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 50-year interest-free loans to support states’ capital expenditures has been done, which can aid in strengthening the transmission infrastructure.

He mentioned India is moving towards having an increased share of renewable energy, and the same has increased from 32 per cent in 2014 to 49 per cent in April 2025, highlighting the national ambition to achieve 100 GW of nuclear energy by 2047.

The Union Minister also underscored the importance of cybersecurity in the power sector and spoke about 'Islanding Schemes' as effective measures to prevent power outages owing to cyber incidents and enable the resilience of the grid.

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Good to see India's power sector progressing! But states need to work harder on renewable energy adoption. Solar potential in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat is massive - why aren't we utilizing it fully? Also, nuclear power in every state sounds ambitious but safety concerns must be addressed properly.
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Priya M.
As someone from Bihar, I hope our state government takes this seriously. We face daily power cuts even in Patna! The 50-year interest-free loans should be used wisely to upgrade infrastructure. Renewable energy + storage is the way forward 🌞⚡
A
Arjun S.
While the numbers look impressive, I'm concerned about the environmental impact. More focus should be on decentralized solar power - rooftop installations in cities and villages. The 'One Nation-One Grid' is good but we need local resilience too.
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Sneha T.
Cybersecurity in power sector is crucial! With increasing digitization, we can't afford another major grid failure like in 2012. Glad the minister mentioned this. Also, hope the nuclear power plants will have strict safety protocols - we've seen what happened in Fukushima.
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Vikram J.
The 446 GW target is massive! But what about power distribution losses? Many states lose 20-30% in transmission. First fix the basics before expanding capacity. Also, consumers need better pricing - middle class is burdened with high electricity bills.
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Neha P.
Happy to see renewable energy share increasing from 32% to 49%! 👏 But we need more focus on wind energy too - coastal states have great potential. Also, hope the nuclear plants won't face NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) protests like we've seen in other countries.

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Tags:
India electricity demand Manohar Lal renewable energy peak power nuclear energy Viksit Bharat