India Can Meet 2030 Power Demand by Deploying 600 GW Renewable Energy: Report.

India must scale up to 600 GW of non-fossil-fuel capacity by 2030 to meet its rising electricity demand affordably and reliably, according to a report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Achieving this target will require significant investments in energy storage systems (ESS).

The report highlights that deploying 600 GW of clean energy across multiple states could reduce generation costs by 6-18 paise per unit, eliminate the need for new coal plants, and save ₹13,000 crore to ₹42,400 crore in power procurement costs. Additionally, this transition could create between 53,000 and 1,00,000 jobs while cutting carbon emissions by 9-16% compared to FY24 levels.

To ensure grid stability, India will need 70 GW of four-hour battery energy storage systems, 13 GW of pumped storage hydro, and retrofitting of 140 GW of coal capacity. The study also notes that battery storage costs have fallen by 65% in the past two years, making renewable energy pathways more feasible.

A recent government mandate requiring all future solar projects to include at least two hours of energy storage capacity is a step toward improved grid integration. The report recommends that the Ministry of Power set a clear 600 GW non-fossil-fuel capacity target in the National Electricity Policy while promoting a diverse renewable energy portfolio.

India’s 600 GW renewable energy goal would include 377 GW of solar, 148 GW of wind, 62 GW of hydro, and 20 GW of nuclear energy. If power demand grows faster than expected due to economic expansion or climate-related factors, the report suggests this high-renewable pathway as the most viable solution.

HBL