India’s total electricity generation rose 11.6% year on year to 180 billion kWh in August. An extended heatwave and below-average rainfall increased cooling demand while limiting hydropower generation, which fell 16.7% to 21.5 billion kWh. Coal-fired generation increased 11.3% to 116.28 billion kWh. Although this growth rate slowed from nearly 13% in July and around 14% in June, coal-fired output itself continued to increase substantially.

Renewable generation from solar, wind and small hydropower projects jumped 42.1% to 35.14 billion kWh. However, peak demand during non-solar hours remained high, requiring coal-fired power to continue providing dispatchable generation and filling supply gaps. Meanwhile, patchy monsoon rainfall disrupted coal mining and supplies, leaving 46 power plants with critically low coal inventories.