Country insight – India

Fast facts

At a glance

• Primary energy consumption increased from 32 to 35 EJ – a 10% annual increase.
• The combined share of energy consumption from oil, gas and coal stood at 90%, similar to its pre-pandemic level.
• Coal was the fastest-growing fuel, increasing 16%, and 8% above its 2019 level.
• The share of coal in primary energy was 57%, compared to 24% at a global level; India accounts for 12.5% of global coal consumption.
• India was the second-largest producer of coal in the world (behind China).
• Natural gas consumption increased to 62 bcm (a 3.1% increase). However, the share of natural gas in primary energy decreased from 6.8% to 6.3%.
• Natural gas production increased by 20% to 29 bcm, still below the peak of 47 bcm in 2010. LNG imports decreased by 8.1% to 33.6 bcm, with Qatar providing the largest share (41%).
• Renewables grew by 13.2%, but their share of primary energy increased only by 0.1 percentage points to 5%.
• India installed 10.3 GW of solar and 1.5 GW of onshore wind, with the solar additions being a record amount for India. The total installed capacity at the end of 2021 amounts to 49.3 GW for solar and 40.1 GW for onshore wind.
• Total electricity generation increased from 1,563 TWh to 1,715 TWh, an increase of 10%. Coal’s share in power generation increased from 72% in 2019 to 74%. Renewables (excluding hydro) generation increased from 152 to 172 TWh, reaching the 10% share threshold for the first time, and surpassing hydro.
• Indian biofuels production went from 23 to 37 kboe/d, an increase of 60%; biofuel consumption increased from 36 to 43 kboe/d, so India’s reliance on biofuels imports decreased.
• CO₂ emissions from energy use increased by 12% to over 2.5 Gt, exceeding its pre-pandemic level.