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India's Power Sector Offers Rs 40 Tn Investment Opportunity by 2035

2025-01-17

The Indian power sector presents an investment opportunity worth Rs 40 trillion over the next decade, driven by rising demand, infrastructure modernisation, and a shift towards clean energy, according to a report by Motilal Oswal. The report emphasised that three key factors—accelerating demand, infrastructure upgradation, and India's renewable energy transition—make the sector highly attractive for investors.

The report noted that India's power demand is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7 per cent, up from the previous rate of 5 per cent. It highlighted the need to upgrade or replace aging power infrastructure to accommodate an energy mix increasingly dominated by renewable energy. India’s target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 is a significant milestone in this transition.

India's unique combination of rapid GDP growth, technological advancements, and increasing electrification will continue to drive power demand in the coming years, the report stated. It predicted that emerging demand drivers like electric vehicles (EVs), data centres, and the overall electrification of energy demand would sustain a 7% power consumption growth rate over the next decade.

By 2035, one-third of the power demand growth is expected to come from EVs and data centres, which currently account for a minimal share of India’s energy consumption. The report projected that data centre capacity in India would grow at a CAGR of 30 per cent over the next decade. Additionally, it estimated penetration rates for new vehicle sales by the end of this period at 60 per cent for two-wheelers, 20 per cent for passenger vehicles, and 20 per cent for commercial vehicles.

The report also highlighted opportunities in renewable energy generation and transmission, noting that these segments hold greater promise than thermal or exchange markets. It pointed out that limited private sector involvement in thermal power increases the risk of execution delays, strengthening the case for renewable energy investments.

The transmission segment was identified as particularly promising, with Power Grid's Rs 2 trillion capex opportunity potentially expanding further. While energy exchanges are likely to benefit from advancements in generation and transmission infrastructure, regulatory uncertainties, especially around market coupling, remain challenging to predict, the report cautioned.