India’s Leading Renewable State Likely to Add Coal Capacity by 2036

Despite Rajasthan being India’s top producer of renewable energy, new government planning documents show that the state is expected to add a substantial amount of coal-fired power capacity by 2036 to ensure reliable electricity supply.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) — a technical advisory body under India’s federal power ministry — has revised its earlier projection upward, now estimating Rajasthan will need about 4,400 megawatts (MW) of new coal generation capacity by that year, more than double its prior estimate of 1,900 MW.

This increase comes even as the state plans to retire around 1,350 MW of older coal plants and continues its build-out of solar and wind projects. Current grid realities show that even with renewables supplying roughly 70% of its electricity, the intermittency of solar and wind — and the limited rollout of large-scale battery storage — means coal remains necessary to meet demand around the clock.

In response to the revised coal figures, Rajasthan’s power regulator is reevaluating a previous permit denial for a proposed 3,200 MW coal plant at the request of the state utility, which argues that firm power from coal is needed alongside renewables.

At the national level, India continues to balance its energy transition goals — including achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and expanding renewable capacity to 500 gigawatts — with growing electricity demand. Government data projects that the overall coal-fired power fleet may expand by about 40% by 2035, underscoring the ongoing role of coal in ensuring grid stability during the transition.