Yearly power generation has increased by 6% Y-o-Y to 1241.785 BU with generation from Renewable sources showing remarkable improvement.
India’s Overall power generation which includes generation from Conventional sources and from Renewable sources, stood at 1241.785 BU ( Billion Units) in FY17 against 1173.602 BU in FY16, according to the data provided by Power Ministry report.
Generation from Conventional Sources has increased by 5% Y-o-Y to 1159.835 BU in FY17 compared with 1107.822 BU in FY16. Power generation from conventional sources comprises of Thermal, Nuclear, Hydro and electricity imported from Bhutan.
Renewable Sources Power generation recorded significant growth on the yearly basis, which rose by 25% Y-o-Y to 81.95 BU in FY17 compared with 65.78 BU in FY16.
| Source | FY17 | FY16 | %Change |
| Generation From Conventional Sources | |||
| Thermal | 994.215 | 943.787 | 5% |
| Hydro* | 122.312 | 121.377 | 1% |
| Nuclear | 37.664 | 37.414 | 1% |
| Bhutan Imports | 5.644 | 5.244 | 8% |
| Total Conventional Sources | 1159.835 | 1107.822 | 5% |
| Generation From Renewable Sources | 81.95 | 65.78 | 25% |
| Grand Total | 1241.785 | 1173.602 | 6% |
Source: Power Ministry Report
Quantities in BU
* Excludes generation from Hydro stations upto 25 MW
Generating Capacity Addition:
Capacity Addition during FY17 was lowered by 41% Y-o-Y compared with the capacity added during previous fiscal. In FY17, power plant capacity of 14144.8 MW was added against 23976.6 MW added in FY16.
Capacity addition in Thermal Sector saw major downfall, with only 11550.8 MW capacity Power plant added during FY17 against 22460.6 MW added in the previous fiscal. Lack of attaining Power purchase agreements (PPA) and growth in the Renewable sector could be attributed to the fall in Capacity Addition in Thermal Plants.
Nuclear sector added 1000 MW during FY17 with the second unit (1000 MW) of Kudankulam Nuclear plant starting its commercial operation in Mar’17.
| Generating Capacity Addition | |||
| Source | FY17 | FY16 | %Change |
| Thermal | 11550.8 | 22460.6 | -49% |
| Hydro | 1594 | 1516 | 5% |
| Nuclear | 1000 | – | – |
| All India | 14144.8 | 23976.6 | -41% |
Source: Power Ministry Report
Quantities in MW
Current Installed Capacity of Indian power plants stood at 319606.30 MW as on Mar’17.
Plant Load Factor:
Plant Load factor for coal and Lignite based plants has declined by 4% Y-o-Y to 60.01 in FY 17 compared with 62.31 in FY16.
Utilisation factor of Coal –fired plants has been hampered by the lack of demand and increasing price competitiveness of renewable power.
Renewable sources of Energy which are increasing progressively has an installed capacity of 50018 MW as on Mar’17, and under utilisation of most of the coal-fired power plants has led to the downfall in the Plant Load Factor.
Source: Power Ministry Report
For Coal and Lignite based Power Plants


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