India's Power Sector: A $700 Billion Investment for a Greener Future

India's power sector, a major carbon emitter, needs a $700 billion investment over the next decade to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, according to Moody's. The sector's transition from coal dependency to renewable energy and enhanced grid networks is crucial, with private and foreign capital playing key roles.

Moody's Ratings has projected a massive $700 billion investment requirement for India's power sector over the next ten years. This substantial sum is crucial in transitioning the sector towards India's ambitious 2070 net-zero emissions target.

Currently responsible for 37% of the country's carbon emissions, the power sector is heavily reliant on coal-fired generation. Consequently, significant investments are needed in renewable energy, grid networks, and energy storage to facilitate decarbonization. Moody's estimates the annual investment needs to be around $53 billion to $76 billion until fiscal 2034-35.

The report underscores the necessity of public and private sector collaboration, with foreign capital essential to bridge funding gaps. Private sector participation is expected to remain robust, while government-owned enterprises expand their roles. As the economy is poised to grow at 6.5% per annum, investments will focus on increasing renewable capacity as coal-based generation expands due to a projected increase in power demand.

(With inputs from agencies.)