Coal’s Share in India’s Power Mix Falls to One-Year Low as Renewable Energy Hits Record

NEW DELHI, Aug 1 (Reuters) – The share of coal in India’s power-generation mix dropped to its lowest in a year in ​July as renewable-power generation surged to a record high, government ‌data showed.

Renewable power jumped to 20% of India’s mix, the data showed. It was 36.25 billion kilowatt‑hours (kWh) in July, up 30% from the same month last year.

Coal-power ​generation fell to 65.7% in July from 69% in June, ​according to Reuters calculations of daily data from the regulator, ⁠Grid-India.

The rise in India’s clean-energy generation comes as solar and wind ​output exceeded 100 gigawatts for the first time and accounted for a ​record 42.8% of India’s electricity supply on July 13, government data showed.

Most of the peak power demand is happening during daytime where there is increased contribution from ​solar, said Manoj Kumar, an analyst with Centre for Research on ​Energy and Clean Air, pointing to a rise in renewable share in the country’s ‌power ⁠generation.

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Coal-fired power generation rose about 12.8% year-on-year to 119.40 billion kWh in July, the data showed.

Analysts attributed the rise in coal-power generation to a fall in hydropower generation and due to a strong El Nino ​pattern, where searing ​heat is driving ⁠demand for cooling during the nighttime.

Hydropower generation fell for a second straight month to 22.1% on lower rainfall ​due to El Nino, which significantly shifts rainfall patterns ​and ⁠lifts above-normal temperatures.

Lower hydro generation due to El Nino and increased demand for power could lead to a power-generation gap of nearly 18 billion kWh ⁠and ​will drive a surge in coal-fired power ​in India, CREA said.

India’s electricity generation in July rose 10.4% from a year earlier to ​181.79 billion kWh, data showed.