India Added 45 GW Renewable in 2025, Grid Upgrade Can Unlock 1,000 GW Capacity

Kudankulam Nuclear Reactor Costs Surge 55%: Impact on India's Nuclear Expansion Plans

Cost of four under-construction nuclear reactors at Kudankulam has risen by 55% to ₹1,38,330 crore, driven by Russia-Ukraine war. This poses a challenge to India's ambitious nuclear expansion plans and could increase electricity tariffs, especially as the government opens the sector to private participation.

India Crosses 300 GW Non-Fossil Capacity, Targets 500 GW by 2030; Solar Leads at 164.59 GW

India has crossed 300 GW non-fossil fuel capacity (300.50 GW as of July 31, 2026), accounting for over 54% of total installed capacity. Solar power leads at 164.59 GW. The country is on track for 500 GW by 2030. Key schemes like PM Surya Ghar have benefited 19 lakh households with zero electricity bills. This milestone is crucial for exams on energy transition, climate policy, and government schemes.

Govt to Launch Lithium-Nickel Scheme; 4 States Identified for Critical Mineral Processing

India is launching a new scheme to process lithium and nickel, critical for EV batteries, with four states identified as hubs. The government has flagged the contradiction of exporting raw minerals while being 100% import-dependent on key minerals, signaling a strategic push toward self-reliance and value addition.

National Green Hydrogen Mission: 400-500 Buses/Trucks by 2030, Trials on 20 Highways

India's National Green Hydrogen Mission targets 400-500 hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty buses and trucks by 2030. To achieve this, 70 vehicles have been sanctioned for trials across 20 highways, with the goal of achieving operating cost parity with diesel in 2-3 years.

India Crosses 300 GW Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity, Targets 60% by 2035 Under Revised NDC

India has crossed 300 GW of non-fossil fuel electricity capacity (July 31, 2026), achieving 60% of its 500 GW target for 2030. The government has also revised its NDCs for 2035, targeting 60% non-fossil capacity and a 47% reduction in emissions intensity. This milestone is critical for UPSC Environment and Economy syllabus.

India's Data Centre Boom: $200B Investment, 6.5 GW Capacity by 2030 Strains Power & Water

India's data centre capacity is set to quadruple to 6.5 GW by 2030, driving $200 billion investment. However, this boom is colliding with climate reality: soaring electricity demand (57 TWh), water consumption (358 billion litres annually), and heat generation. The governance gap, with no enforceable standards, risks socializing costs to consumers and worsening water/energy stress.

21 GW Renewable Energy Faces Curtailment Due to Transmission Bottlenecks in India

India's renewable energy boom is hitting a critical bottleneck: lack of transmission infrastructure. Nearly 21 GW of capacity operates on temporary grid access, facing severe curtailment (up to 90-95% in some cases), threatening project viability, debt repayment, and potentially creating NPAs for banks that have deployed ₹5.08 lakh crore in the sector.

MNRE Proposes Polysilicon Incentive; Solar Cell Capacity to Triple to 100 GW

India is planning a support scheme to incentivize domestic polysilicon manufacturing, a key raw material for solar panels currently 100% imported. This move aims to deepen the solar value chain, with solar cell capacity expected to triple to 100 GW within a year. Additionally, renewable energy is helping reduce DISCOM power purchase costs, with RE-RTC tariffs matching nuclear power at Rs 5.25/unit.