India's Peak Power Demand Projected to Reach 300 GW

Key facts

• India's peak power demand is projected to reach 300 gigawatts (GW) next year, driven by the rapid expansion of data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), and electric vehicles (EVs).
• According to the Ministry of Power, India's peak power demand hit a record high of 270.82 GW in May 2026, while available capacity has grown to 284 GW.
• India has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, with non-fossil fuel capacity increasing from 81 GW to 291 GW in just over a decade.
• Under the 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' vision, India proposes a 1,600-kilometre undersea cable to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) costing ₹40,000 crore, with planned connections to Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Europe.
• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) is targeting approximately 160 GW of storage by 2035 through battery and pumped hydro storage.