India’s Renewable Power Generation Crosses 100 BU in Q2 FY27

India generated 101 billion units (BU) of renewable electricity, excluding large hydropower, in the second quarter of financial year 2026–27 (Q2 FY27), the first time quarterly generation crossed 100 BU. Total electricity generation reached 536 BU during July–September 2026, while combined non-fossil fuel generation from renewables, hydropower and nuclear energy reached 177 BU.

Renewable and non-fossil electricity

Renewable electricity comes from sources replenished naturally, including solar and wind energy. The reported 101 BU figure excludes large hydropower, while the broader non-fossil category includes renewables, hydropower and nuclear energy. Non-fossil sources accounted for about 33% of total generation in Q2 FY27, up from 163 BU in Q2 FY26.

Solar generation rose 39% year-on-year to 51 BU, and wind generation increased 29% to 45 BU. Solar supplied 10% of India’s electricity generation for the first time in the quarter and set a daily generation record of 705 million units on 30 September 2026. Large hydropower generation was 60 BU in Q2 FY27, compared with 39 BU in Q1 FY27.

Electricity units and installed capacity

A unit of electricity is one kilowatt-hour (kWh); one BU equals one billion kWh. A gigawatt (GW) measures power capacity or demand, rather than the quantity of electricity generated over time. India’s peak electricity demand reached 270 GW on 16 July 2026, 18% above the peak in Q2 FY26.

During Q2 FY27, renewable capacity additions were about 7 GW, compared with 0.8 GW of thermal capacity additions. Solar generation of 1.8 BU, about 4.2% of total solar generation, was curtailed in July and August because of grid and operational constraints.

Thermal generation and fuel stocks

Coal and lignite generated 351 BU, approximately 66% of electricity, and remained India’s dominant power sources. Coal power plant utilisation was 68% in Q2 FY27. Coal stocks at power plants stood at 21 million tonnes on 30 September, equal to 36% of the normative requirement.

Important Facts for Exams

• One kilowatt-hour is commonly called one unit of electricity.
• One billion units of electricity equal one billion kilowatt-hours.
• Solar and wind are renewable energy sources, while coal is a fossil fuel.
• Hydropower and nuclear energy are classified as non-fossil sources in the generation figures cited here.

India’s total electricity generation was 536 BU in Q2 FY27, and non-fossil sources contributed 177 BU. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air published its quarterly energy snapshot on 12 October 2026.