India is ahead of climate targets: how country transforms energy sector

In 2025, India will achieve the goal of reducing the share of fossil fuels in the energy sector to below 50 per cent – five years ahead of schedule. This is according to data from the Central Electricity Authority of India and a BloombergNEF forecast. According to the timeline, coal's share has fallen to 45 per cent as early as 2024, giving way to solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy.

The country is not just adding capacity, but doing so in a phased and measured manner, taking into account the interests of industry and households.

"The Indian government is implementing a strategy of smooth energy transition, which allows minimising risks for the economy and population," Mikhail Khachaturyan, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, told TV BRICS.

"Given India's climatic peculiarities, the target of 500 GW from renewable energy sources is quite achievable. At the same time, coal is likely to retain a share of 15-20 per cent of generation for the foreseeable future," he stressed.

The expert adds that in terms of energy transition structure, India is following China's path – reducing coal capacity by switching to gas. This approach ensures both emission reductions and system sustainability.

"It is already having an impact on the environment: it would be worse without the introduction of green capacity," confirms Igor Makarov, head of the Department of World Economy at the HSE University, in a conversation with TV BRICS.

"However, coal-fired generation is still growing because overall energy consumption is growing. India's peak coal utilisation is unlikely to pass in the coming years," he added.

Nevertheless, amidst the overall increase in electricity demand, aggressive development of renewable energy is emerging as a key tool to mitigate the climate crisis. Experts say India is demonstrating that a sustainable transition is possible without economic shocks – and can serve as an example for other countries in the Global South.

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