India's Night Power Drain: ACs Fuel Coal Revival

Sweltering summer nights in India are significantly increasing after-dark electricity consumption, putting pressure on the nation's renewable energy initiatives. Night-time temperatures have risen sharply, making air conditioning a necessity for many of India's 1.4 billion residents. Since 2019, peak night-time electricity demand has grown by approximately 40%, with air conditioning now representing up to one-third of this demand.

While India has rapidly expanded its solar capacity, currently the world's third-largest, its renewable and storage resources are insufficient to cover night-time needs. This necessitates the continued reliance on coal-fired power stations to supply electricity once solar output diminishes. Experts predict peak night-time demand to increase by at least 10GW by 2027 as more households acquire air conditioning units.

India is committed to net-zero emissions by 2070 and is investing heavily in non-fossil fuel sources. However, the country is also constructing new coal-fired power stations to manage the growing demand. A key challenge remains the lack of adequate energy storage for renewables, with significant solar power being curtailed due to grid limitations. The Central Electricity Authority estimates a more than 27-fold increase in battery storage capacity will be needed by 2031-2032 to bridge the gap and better utilize renewable energy.