India produced more solar and wind power than ever before in the first half of 2025, cutting power sector emissions by 24 million tonnes compared to the same period last year, according to a report published on Tuesday.
According to the analysis global energy think tank Ember, solar power grew by 17 terawatt-hours (TWh) between January and June, which is 25 percent more than last year. This pushed solar's share in India's total electricity generation to 9.2 percent, up from 7.4 percent in the first half of 2024.
Wind power also saw a big jump. It rose by 11 TWh, or 29 percent, compared to almost no growth last year. Wind now makes up 5.1 percent of India's electricity, up from 4 percent.
The report said the rise in solar energy alone was larger than the growth in India's total electricity demand. Together, wind and hydro power nearly met all the new demand for electricity, helping the country rely less on fossil fuels.
Other clean sources grew too. Nuclear power increased by 14 percent and hydro power bounced back with a 17 percent rise after falling last year.
Because clean energy grew so strongly, power from coal plants fell by 22 TWh (3.1 percent), and gas-based generation dropped by 34 percent. As a result, India's power sector emitted 24 million tonnes less carbon dioxide than it did during the same period last year, Ember said.
It said the growth in clean power was more than three times higher than the increase in electricity demand.
Electricity demand grew by only 1.3 percent in the first half of 2025, the slowest growth since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year during the same period, demand had risen by 9 percent.
The report said milder weather and slower industrial activity kept electricity use low. Cooling demand also dropped, as air conditioners, which use nearly one-fifth of India's total power capacity, were used less often.
Ember estimated that if temperatures had been as hot as last year, demand would have risen by about 3.5 percent. But even then, clean energy would have grown faster than demand, reducing coal use further.
The report said demand is likely to rise again in the second half of the year, which could slightly increase coal power use.
According to the analysis global energy think tank Ember, solar power grew by 17 terawatt-hours (TWh) between January and June, which is 25 percent more than last year. This pushed solar's share in India's total electricity generation to 9.2 percent, up from 7.4 percent in the first half of 2024.
Wind power also saw a big jump. It rose by 11 TWh, or 29 percent, compared to almost no growth last year. Wind now makes up 5.1 percent of India's electricity, up from 4 percent.
The report said the rise in solar energy alone was larger than the growth in India's total electricity demand. Together, wind and hydro power nearly met all the new demand for electricity, helping the country rely less on fossil fuels.
Other clean sources grew too. Nuclear power increased by 14 percent and hydro power bounced back with a 17 percent rise after falling last year.
Because clean energy grew so strongly, power from coal plants fell by 22 TWh (3.1 percent), and gas-based generation dropped by 34 percent. As a result, India's power sector emitted 24 million tonnes less carbon dioxide than it did during the same period last year, Ember said.
It said the growth in clean power was more than three times higher than the increase in electricity demand.
Electricity demand grew by only 1.3 percent in the first half of 2025, the slowest growth since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year during the same period, demand had risen by 9 percent.
The report said milder weather and slower industrial activity kept electricity use low. Cooling demand also dropped, as air conditioners, which use nearly one-fifth of India's total power capacity, were used less often.
Ember estimated that if temperatures had been as hot as last year, demand would have risen by about 3.5 percent. But even then, clean energy would have grown faster than demand, reducing coal use further.
The report said demand is likely to rise again in the second half of the year, which could slightly increase coal power use.
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