India’s power demand crosses 250 GW, solar anchors grid response during heatwave

India’s national power demand crossed 250 GW for the first time this year on April 24, 2026, reaching 2,51,771 MW at 15:45 hrs. A day later, on April 25, demand rose further to around 256.1 GW at 15:38 hrs. The peaks coincided with a heatwave, during which 19 of the world’s hottest locations were recorded in India over the same weekend. Grid operations remained stable through both days, with solar energy playing a central role in meeting daytime demand. 

Solar generation reached 81,539 MW at 12:15 hrs on April 24, accounting for 33.8% of total generation. At this point, thermal generation reduced to 56.3%, gas contributed 1%, and the overall fossil share declined to 57.3%. Non-fossil sources accounted for 42.7%, while wind contributed 1.6%, reflecting typical daytime patterns.

By the afternoon peak at 15:45 hrs, solar output had declined to about 57,524 MW or 22.4% of generation. Thermal generation increased to 65.3%, and the fossil share rose to 66.5%.

At the night peak of 2,40,240 MW recorded at 22:30 hrs, solar output was absent. Thermal generation accounted for 76.3%, hydro contributed 12.1%, gas stood at 3.5%, and wind at 4.3%. Fossil-based generation rose to 79.9%. Hydro output increased from about 9 GW at solar noon to nearly 29 GW at night, providing balancing support.

The share of non-fossil generation ranged from about 20% at night to 43% during solar peak hours. This 23-percentage-point variation reflects the duck curve pattern, now evident at the national level. The pattern is visible across state-level load curves, with ongoing efforts to manage variability and extend the contribution of solar beyond daylight hours.

On April 25, solar generation contributed around 57 GW, or about 22% of total generation at the time of peak demand. Around midday, solar output reached 81 GW, close to one-third of the total electricity supply.

The synchronised grid demonstrated a diversity benefit of about 3% at the regional level and around 5% at the national level. This reduced coincident peak requirements and supported more efficient use of generation, reserves, and transmission capacity. India operates one of the largest synchronous grids globally under a unified frequency framework, shaped by regional demand patterns, renewable variability, and transmission flows.

Solar expansion and system impact

The demand records come alongside a rapid expansion in solar capacity. In 2015, India had about 4 GW of installed solar capacity. This has now crossed 150 GW, supported by additions of nearly 44–45 GW in FY2025–26. Renewable energy accounts for over 41% of total installed capacity, with solar contributing 28%.

With summer demand expected to exceed 271 GW this year, solar generation will play a key role in meeting peak requirements. The pace of capacity addition is expected to average around 125 MW per day through 2030. At the same time, hydro faces increasing variability linked to climate conditions, affecting its share in the generation mix.

Winter peak demand reached 245 GW in January this year, indicating a narrowing gap between seasonal peaks. This trend simplifies planning for higher renewable integration. Transmission expansion is also expected to reduce curtailment risks.

Storage and the next phase of integration

Battery storage is expected to support greater utilisation of solar generation by shifting daytime output to evening and night demand periods. In India, tenders for renewable energy projects with storage or peak supply obligations now account for a majority of new bids. The Union Budget has increased viability gap funding support for battery energy storage systems significantly.

Solar PV generation is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 24% through 2030. As storage costs decline, similar to the cost trajectory observed in solar over the past decade, solar generation is expected to extend into hours beyond daylight.

Global context

These developments align with broader global trends. In 2025, renewable energy accounted for nearly 34% of global electricity generation, exceeding coal’s share for the first time in over a century. Solar contributed a significant portion of incremental demand, accounting for more than a quarter of additional global energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency’s Global Energy Review 2026.

From a marginal contributor in 2015, solar has become the fastest-growing energy source globally, with costs falling below coal in many markets. India’s recent grid performance reflects this structural shift in the energy system.

The featured photograph is for representation only.