India's Energy Demand Surge Forecasted to Grow 35% by 2035 Reports IEA

According to a recent study from the International Energy Agency (IEA), India is expected to experience a growth in energy supplies soon because of its increasing population and higher demand in different industries. By 2035, India is expected to see an increase of more than 12,000 cars on the roads every day, as projected by Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS). Each year, more than 1 billion square meters of new buildings will be completed, surpassing the existing total amount of constructed space in South Africa. India is projected to see a 35 percent rise in total energy demand and its electricity production capacity is forecasted to hit 1,400 GW by 2035, triple the current capacity.

The IEA report mentioned, "The population size and the scale of rising demand from all sectors mean that India is poised to experience more energy demand growth than any other country over the next decade."

India is looking to boost its coal-based electricity capacity by about 60 gigawatts by 2030, even with the closure of certain outdated coal plants. The World Energy Outlook 2024 report, suggests that India will continue to depend on coal in its energy combination.

The IEA confirmed India's goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2070 and stated that coal will remain an integral component of the country's energy demand in the near future. India plans to increase its coal-fired power capacity by approximately 60 gigawatts by 2030, despite shutting down some older coal plants. According to the report, there will be a growth of more than 15 percent in coal-based electricity generation.

The IEA noted a drop in coal usage in Europe and the US in 2023, with an uptick of 8 percent in India and 5 percent in China.