India, the world’s third-largest producer and second-largest consumer of electricity, boasts a diverse array of power companies shaping its dynamic energy landscape. It has an installed power capacity of 423.35 GW (As of July 2023, Report by IBEF, India Brand Equity Foundation). The primary aim of India’s power industry has always been the development of conventional forms of energy to meet the growing energy needs at a reasonable cost.
Moreover, India’s power sector stands out as one of the most diversified sectors globally. It boasts power generation from conventional sources such as coal, hydro, nuclear power, natural gas, oil, and lignite, alongside viable non-conventional sources like wind, solar, domestic, and agricultural waste.
In 2021, India ranked fourth in wind power, renewable power, and solar power installed capacity. It is the only country among the G20 nations on track to achieve the targets under the Paris Agreement. Moreover, if government plans are successful, the shared electricity generated through renewables will increase to 40% by 2030.
Power consumption in India in FY23 logged a 9.5% growth to 1,503.65 billion units (BU).
Electricity demand in the country has increased rapidly and is projected to rise further in the upcoming years. To meet these increasing demands and to turn the country from one with a power shortage to one with a surplus, the Ministry of Power has made significant efforts over the past few years. These include establishing a single national grid, fortifying the distribution network, and achieving universal household electrification.
- The Ministry of Power has identified 81 thermal units that will replace coal with renewable energy generation by 2026 to meet India’s 500 GW renewable energy target as well as tackle the annual issue of coal demand-supply mismatch.
- In the Union Budget 2023-24, the government allocated INR 7,327 Crore for the solar power sector, including grid, off-grid, and PM-KUSUM projects.
- Schemes such as – Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) – are likely to augment electrification across the country.
The government’s initiative to increase electricity generation capacity has thereby seen many power companies in India receive a considerable investment boost to fulfill the country’s growing power needs.
Take a glance at India’s leading Power Companies –
1. NTPC Limited
It is India’s largest power utility engaged in the generation and sale of electricity. NTPC Limited deals with generating electric power through coal-based thermal power plants. The company has 50 power stations comprising 26 coal, 7 combined cycle gas/liquid fuel, a large and a small hydro, 15 solar PV, as well as 39 subsidiary & JV power stations.
NTPC’s primary business segments include power generation along with other business lines, such as coal mining, oil, and gas exploration, re-gasification, providing consultancy, project management, and supervision. Established in 1975, NTPC aims to be the world’s largest and best power major.
Key Parameters:
| Total generation capacity | 73.8 GW |
| Sub-division | 15.98 GW through joint ventures (JV)/ Subsidiaries |
| Under construction | 18 GW |
| Subsidiaries | NTPC Electric Supply Company Limited NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited Bhartiya Rail Bijlee Company Limited Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited |
Ongoing projects:
- Utpadan Nigam, NTPC to set up 1,600 MW Anpara-E plant in Sonbhadra
- BHEL gets order from NTPC to set up a thermal power project at Chhattisgarh
- NTPC REL clinches 80 MW floating solar project in Madhya Pradesh
2. Adani Power Limited (APL)
Adani Power Limited (APL) is the world’s first company to set up a coal-based supercritical thermal power project registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. Besides, it deals with generating electric power through coal-based thermal power plants and coal trading.
The company is headquartered at the Mundra Thermal Power Plant, Gujarat. It also has Thermal Power Plant subsidiaries in Tiroda (Maharashtra), Kawai (Rajasthan), Udupi (Karnataka), Raigarh & Raipur (Chhattisgarh), Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh), and Godda (Jharkhand). Additionally, the company has a 40 MW solar power project in Gujarat.
Furthermore, APL focuses on selling the power generated from its projects under a combination of long-term Power Purchase Agreements and on a merchant basis.
Key Parameters:
| Total generation capacity | 15.25 GW |
| Sub-division | 4,620 MW at Mundra, 3,300 MW at Tiroda, 1,320 MW at Kawai, 1,200 MW at Udupi and Singrauli, 1,370 MW at Raipur, 600 MW at Raigarh, 40 MW (solar) at Kutch, Gujarat, 1,600 MW at Godda |
| Under construction | 1600 MW (via the proposed expansion of its existing 1200 MW (2×600 MW) power plant at Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh) |
| Subsidiaries | Adani Power Maharashtra Limited Adani Power Rajasthan Limited Udupi Power Corporation Limited Adani Power Resources Limited |
Ongoing projects:
Adani Green Setting Up World’s Largest 20-GW Hybrid Park In Gujarat
3. TATA Power
The Tata Group’s subsidiary is one of India’s largest integrated power companies. It deals with generation, transmission, distribution, as well as new-age energy solutions. The company has a diverse portfolio of generating and distributing power from thermal, hydroelectric, and renewable energy resources.
The company is headquartered at Trombay Thermal Power Station, also known as Tata Power Station (TPS) in Mumbai. It has thermal power stations located in Mundra (Gujarat), Jojobera and Maithon (Jharkhand), Kalinganagar (Odisha), Haldia (West Bengal), and Belgaum (Karnataka). The hydro stations are in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, while the wind farms are in Ahmednagar, Supa, Khanke, Brahmanwel, Gadag, Samana, and Visapur.
The company additionally aims to reduce the carbon footprint and promote the use of clean energy.
Key Parameters:
| Total generation capacity | 14.384 GW |
| Sub-division | 8805 MW via Thermal power, 1705 MW via solar power, 931 MW via Wind power, 447 MW via Hydropower, and 375 MW via Waste heat/ BFG power |
| Under construction | 18 GW |
| Subsidiaries | Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited Tata Power Trading Company Limited TP Ajmer Distribution Limited TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited Tata Power Solar Tata Power Delhi Distribution North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha Western Electricity Supply Company of Odisha TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited |
Ongoing projects:
- Tata Power Renewable Energy to set up 12.5 MW captive Solar Plant in Maharashtra
- Tata Power Renewable Energy to set up 41 MW captive solar plant in Tamil Nadu
- Tata Power arm to set up 4.4 MW solar project for ANAND Group
4. NHPC Limited
This Indian public sector company was established in 1975. Formerly known as the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, it is owned by the Government of India. Moreover, it operates under the Ministry of Power. NHPC is one of India’s largest hydropower development organizations, dedicated to planning, development, and implementation of hydroelectric projects. The company also has diversified into other renewable energy sources such as solar, geothermal, tidal, and wind.
NHPC Limited has a total of 25 power plants pan India, including 22 hydroelectric power plants – six in J & K, five in Himachal Pradesh, two in Sikkim, two in Madhya Pradesh, two in West Bengal, two in Ladakh, two in Uttarakhand, while one in Manipur. The two wind power plants are in Rajasthan, while the solar power is in Tamil Nadu.
Key Parameters:
| Total generation capacity | 10.489 GW |
| Sub-division | 7097.2 MW through renewable power, 1520 MW through subsidiaries |
| Under construction | 12 projects with a total capacity of 5882 MW under clearance, and two projects with a total capacity of 890 MW in the survey and investigation stage. |
| Subsidiaries | NHDC Limited NHPC Renewable Energy Limited Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric Corporation Ltd Lanco Teesta Hydro Power Pvt Ltd Bundelkhand saur Urja Ltd |
Ongoing projects:
- Gensol to develop NHPC’s Green Hydrogen Mobility Station project in Ladakh
- NHPC Signs Agreement for 7,350 MW Pumped Storage Hydro Projects in Maharashtra
5. JSW Energy
Part of JSW Group, it is one of India’s leading private-sector power-producing companies. It is engaged in power generation, transmission, as well as trading. Besides, The company, a key player in India’s private-sector power production, is renowned for its emphasis on environmental sustainability and socio-economic benefits.
The company operates several thermal power plants in Vijayanagar (Karnataka), Barmer (Rajasthan), and Ratnagiri (Maharashtra). It also has solar power plants in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh, whereas hydropower plants are in Himachal Pradesh.
Key Parameters:
| Total generation capacity | 9.8 GW |
| Sub-division | 3,158 MW via Thermal power, 1,461 MW via Wind power, 1,391 MW via Hydropower, and 667 MW via solar power. |
| Under construction | 3 GW |
| Subsidiaries | Total 19 subsidiaries JSW Neo Energy Ltd JSW Electric Vehicles Pvt Ltd JSW Green Energy Ltd JSW Hydro Energy Ltd JSW Power Trading Company Ltd |
Ongoing projects:
Envision Energy secures 653 MW Wind project from JSW
6. SJVN Limited
Formerly known as Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, SJVN is an Indian public sector power-producing company involved in hydroelectric power generation and transmission. The company was established in 1988 as Nathpa Jhakri Power Corporation, a JV (joint venture) between the Government of India (59.92%) and the Government of Himachal Pradesh (26.85%).
SJVN is presently operating power projects in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Assam, Odisha, Mizoram, and Madhya Pradesh. Apart from these, the company also has under-construction hydroelectric projects in Nepal and Bhutan.
Key Parameters:
| Total generation capacity | 2100 MW |
| Sub-division | 1912 MW through two hydropower plants – Nathpa Jhakri and Rampur, 97.6 MW through wind power and 81.9 MW through solar power |
| Under construction | 4500 MW |
| Subsidiaries | Total 19 subsidiaries SJVN Green Energy Ltd SJVN Thermal Pvt Ltd SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company Pvt Ltd (SAPDC) |
Ongoing projects:
- SJVN Green Energy Procures LOAs for 320 MW Solar Power Projects from APDCL in Assam
- SJVN inks two pacts to supply 1,200 MW solar power to Punjab
7. PSPCL
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is a government-owned corporation responsible for the generation as well as distribution of electricity in Punjab. It was established in 2010 and is headquartered in Patiala, Punjab. PSPCL operates several thermal and solar power plants in Punjab as well as hydropower plants in Himachal Pradesh.
PSPCL mainly focuses on generating electricity through coal and natural gas along with other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind farms. The company not only ensures a stable and reliable power supply but also illustrates its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship to meet Punjab’s evolving energy needs.
Key Parameters:
| Total generation capacity | 1760 MW |
| Under construction | 206 MW Hydroelectric power plant at Shahpurkandi, Pathankot |
Ongoing projects:
PSPCL floats tender for 1 GW Solar Project
8. Powergrid Corporation
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited is a public-sector transmission power company under the ownership of the Ministry of Power. It is mainly engaged in the power transmission system for evacuation of central sector power. It is also responsible for the planning, implementation, operation, and maintenance of inter-state transmission systems and national and regional power grids.
Additionally, the company’s transmission sector includes extra-high voltage (EHV)/ high voltage (HV) networks and grid management. It also owns 275 EHV AC (Alternating Current) and HV DC (Direct Current) substations. The consultancy sector of Powergrid includes planning, design, engineering, and load dispatch. Additionally, it deals with procurement management, operation and maintenance, financing, and project management.
Key Parameters:
| Total transformation capacity | 512,601 MVA |
| Sub-division | 15.98 GW through joint ventures (JV)/ Subsidiaries |
| Under construction | 18 GW |
| Subsidiaries | Total 41 subsidiaries Power System Operation Corporation Powergrid Teleservices Ltd Jaypee Powergrid Poweergrid Southern Interconnector Transmission System Ltd |
Ongoing projects:
Power Grid to build 20,000 INR-Crore Green Energy Corridor-II in Ladakh
Note: The total generational capacities of the aforementioned companies in this article are derived from the press release by PIB in May 2023 and are subject to change or may have been updated since then.
REFERENCES:
http://www.nhpcindia.com/home.aspx
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1943391
https://powermin.gov.in/en/content/power-grid
https://www.ibef.org/industry/power-sector-india/showcase
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