New Delhi: For two consecutive days this month (July 13 and 14), the contribution of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE)—specifically solar and wind energy—to the country’s total power supply crossed the 100-gigawatt (GW) mark for the first time. Additionally, the share of VRE in the total power supply reached 42.79%, marking an all-time high.
At 12:05 PM on July 13, 2026, instantaneous power generation from ground-based VRE reached an all-time high of 103.7 GW. The day before, wind power generation had surpassed a peak of 36.6 GW during the evening hours. VRE generation and its share remained at similar levels the following day as well.
During the summer, a combination of heatwave conditions, a surge in cooling-related demand and increased ownership of electrical appliances pushed India’s peak electricity demand to a record 270 GW on two occasions. Despite the sharp rise in demand, variable renewable energy (VRE) continued to play a growing role in meeting the country’s power requirements. On April 25, when electricity demand reached the record 270 GW, solar power contributed 57 GW during peak demand hours and 81 GW at midday—the highest solar generation recorded to date.
Since April, renewable energy has accounted for 35% to 42% of India’s total electricity supply during the summer. When hydropower and nuclear energy are included, the share of non-fossil fuel sources has been close to 50% of the country’s total power supply.
