India ramps up ultra‑high‑voltage grid, power demand and industrial capacity

India is expanding its electricity transmission network with ultra‑high‑voltage 765 kV substations to improve grid stability and accommodate large‑scale renewable power flows. The upgrade is seen as essential for meeting the country’s rising electricity needs.

Industry forecasts project power consumption to grow by up to 7 % in FY27, driven by robust economic activity, industrial expansion, urbanisation and electrification of transport and digital infrastructure. The surge underlines the need for continued investment in generation, transmission and distribution assets.

At the Battery Summit, Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy highlighted the strategic role of critical minerals and domestic battery manufacturing in the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, noting government incentives worth billions of rupees for mineral recycling and battery production.

Reddy also promoted coal‑gasification as a way to create a domestic substitute for LPG and diesel, announcing an initial Rs 8.5 billion allocation for the first phase and a further Rs 37.5 billion for the second phase to boost energy self‑reliance.

Separately, a securities report warned that record cement‑capacity additions of 42‑44 million tonnes per annum in FY27 will likely keep industry utilisation steady at about 70‑71 %, reflecting continued demand from housing, infrastructure and government‑led projects.