Kamal Ghorui
India will require cumulative investments of $14.23 trillion in the power sector, including renewables, storage and transmission, by 2070 under a net-zero scenario, where non-fossil fuel-based generation accounts for 98 per cent, a Niti Aayog report said on Tuesday.The report, “Scenarios Towards Viksit Bharat and Net Zero: Sectoral Insights – Power”, said India’s development and climate ambitions increasingly hinge on electricity. As the country moves towards Viksit Bharat 2047 and Net Zero 2070, reliable, affordable and cleaner electricity will be central to inclusive and sustainable growth, it noted.With nearly 258 GW of renewable energy capacity installed by December 2025, India has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest renewable energy market, reflecting the pace of clean energy expansion, reported news agency PTI.
Power demand, renewables and storage to surge
The report warned that the next phase of growth will be more complex, with electricity demand rising sharply due to urbanisation, cooling needs, digitalisation, electric mobility and green hydrogen. Electricity’s share in final energy consumption is projected to rise from 21 per cent in 2025 to nearly 60 per cent under the Net Zero Scenario by 2070.Per-capita electricity consumption is expected to jump from about 1,400 kWh in 2025 to 7,000–10,000 kWh by 2070, approaching levels seen in advanced economies such as France and South Korea. By 2070, total installed power capacity is projected to be 14 times current levels under the net-zero pathway, with renewable energy accounting for about 90–93 per cent of capacity.Solar power is set to become the backbone of the system, with capacity reaching 3,250–5,500 GW, while onshore wind is expected to exceed 1,000 GW, alongside 50–70 GW of offshore wind. Battery storage is projected to expand to as much as 3,000 GW by 2070, while pumped hydro storage could reach around 160 GW. Nuclear power is also seen as a strategic pillar, scaling up from 8.8 GW in 2025 to over 300 GW by 2070 to provide firm, low-carbon power.
Transport, minerals key to net-zero transition
Niti Aayog also underlined the need to decarbonise the transport sector through modal shift, zero-emission vehicles and clean fuels to meet the Net Zero 2070 target.The think tank estimated cumulative investments of about $4.3 trillion in transport by 2070 under the net-zero pathway.The report further stressed strengthening domestic exploration and mining of critical minerals, building R&D capabilities and diversifying international supply chains to reduce import dependence. It said supply security would depend on aligning demand growth, domestic capacity creation, global engagement and innovation over time.
