INDIA'S GROWTH IN SOLAR POWER PRODUCTION SLOWS AS COAL GENERATION SOARS

Decline in Solar Growth:  Growth in power generation from solar installations in India declined over the first half of the year, marking the slowest increase in six years.

Rise in Coal Generation:  Coal generation rose by 10.4% during the same period in response to increased demand for electricity.

Increased Hydrocarbon Share:  The share of hydrocarbons in India's energy mix rose to 77.1% during the six-month period, reflecting a reliance on coal.

Solar Power Ambitions: Despite the slowdown, India remains a major player in the solar power sector and is one of the top producers of solar panels globally.

Record Solar Capacity Addition:  In the first quarter, solar power generation capacity surged by 400%, achieving the highest quarterly additions ever recorded at 10 GW.

Record Coal Consumption: Coal consumption during the first quarter reached a record 338 terawatt-hours, amid a decline in hydropower output.

Rising Coal Share in Power Generation:  The share of coal in India's power generation jumped to 77% in the first week of April, up by about 2 percentage points compared to the same period in 2023.

Dependence on Coal:  Despite efforts to build out solar capacity, India still relies on coal for about 70% of its energy needs.