(Reuters) -India’s carbon dioxide emissions from its power sector declined by 1% year-on-year in the first half of 2025 on strong clean energy additions and lower power demand, data from a research report showed, marking only the second drop in nearly 50 years.
The fall was driven primarily by record additions in clean-energy capacity and unusually mild weather, which curbed electricity demand, according to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) for Carbon Brief.
The Helsinki, Finland-based think tank attributed 65% of the drop in fossil generation to slower demand growth, 20% to faster clean-energy expansion, and 15% to higher hydropower output.
The analysis is based on official monthly data for fuel consumption, industrial production and power generation from different ministries and government institutes.
India added 25.1 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil capacity in the January-June period – a 69% jump from the previous record – enough to generate nearly 50 terawatt hours (TWh) annually, CREA said.
Lower temperatures and rainfall between March and May that was 42% above normal reduced air conditioning use, while hydropower output surged.
Fossil-fuel generation fell by 29TWh even as total power generation rose by 9TWh, CREA said.
Oil demand growth also stalled, contributing to the broader emissions slowdown. However, emissions from steel and cement rose sharply due to increased government infrastructure spending.
India’s power-sector emissions could peak before 2030 if clean-energy growth continues and demand remains within projections, CREA said. The sector has historically accounted for half of India’s emissions growth.
The country is looking to add 500 GW of clean energy by 2030
(Reporting by Yagnoseni Das and Sethuraman N R; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
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