India plans to raise the share of electricity in its overall energy mix to 45-50% by 2047, up from 22% at present, Central Electricity Authority Chairperson Ghanshyam Prasad said on September 2.

The energy mix refers to combined energy sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear power and renewables.

Speaking at the Bharat Electricity 2026, POWERGEN India and Indian Utility Week 2026, Prasad said India added a record 64 GW of new capacity last year, with renewables accounting for more than 50 GW.

He noted that India is likely to exceed that figure this year, with fresh additions targeted at up to 70 GW.

BY 2035, India is set to double its 2030 renewables target, reaching 100 GW of pumped hydro storage by 2035-36, and achieve 100 GW of nuclear by 2047. Prasad said the roadmap is ambitious but necessary to ensure reliable, affordable and clean electricity for all.

Reaching net-zero while supporting economic transformation requires India's power sector to expand its share, absorbing growing loads from industry, mobility and digital infrastructure, Prasad noted.

He also stressed the need for systemic innovation, saying transmission projects worth Rs 4 lakh crore ($42.38 billion) are under way to evacuate 266 GW, with 600 GVA of transformation capacity being planned.

Prasad added that the goal is to provide grid connectivity for new renewables within 24-36 months, even as new demand types emerge from data centers, hydrogen and electric vehicles.

He urged the industry to safeguard supply chain resilience, warning that disruptions must be avoided for transformers, reactors, and advanced grid equipment given the scale of growth. He also called for innovation in areas such as mobile substations, SF6-free solutions, advanced forecasting and AI for grid stability.

D Sai Baba, additional secretary at the Ministry of Power, said the challenge is to turn renewable capacity into reliable, affordable power at the right place and time, while building a grid that is resilient, flexible and future-ready.

P K Pujari, Chairperson of ENCIS, said India's electricity sector is moving beyond simply adding capacity, with the next step being to reimagine the grid itself, shifting from a fossil-heavy and centralized system to one that is renewable-rich, decentralized and digitally enabled.

He added that the focus now is on building flexibility, integrating smart technologies and creating a grid that empowers consumers while delivering clean, affordable energy for all.