India Sets New 256 GW Power Demand Record Amid April Heatwave

India's electricity demand hit a record 256 GW on 25 April 2026, driven by an intense heatwave with average maximum temperatures ranging between 40°C and 45°C across the country. Renewables supplied 30 per cent of peak demand, but coal plants are already operating near their 55 per cent minimum technical floor, highlighting the urgent need for storage, demand management and coal flexibilisation.

Peak demand rose sharply from 252 GW on 24 April to 256 GW on 25 April 2026, surpassing the previous record of 249.8 GW set in FY25. The highest temperature recorded during the period was 47.4°C. The demand surge was 16 GW above grid projections for that week. Solar energy provided 24 per cent of peak supply at 58.2 GW, while coal contributed 66 per cent at 173.3 GW. Hydro power's share rose from 4–5 per cent during solar hours to 11–12 per cent after 6pm, providing non-fossil firm power as solar generation faded.

The peak event exposed two simultaneous grid challenges: sustained demand above 220 GW across the entire day, placing transmission infrastructure under continuous stress for weeks, and a peak that arrives between 3–4pm when solar generation is already declining from its midday high. Gas-based generation filled rapid ramping gaps, with gas capacity on board surging from 4.9 GW to 9.1 GW within a few hours, but gas-powered electricity costs three to five times more than coal or solar, creating an economic burden on consumers. Coal's share contracted to 57 per cent during peak solar hours, pushing the fleet near its 55 per cent minimum operational limit.

Researchers at the Centre for Science and Environment conclude that coal flexibilisation, specifically reducing the minimum technical load from 55 per cent to 40 per cent, could free up roughly 34 GW of capacity to better integrate renewable energy without battery storage in the near term. India has 28.7 GWh of battery storage and 78.7 GWh of pumped storage under construction. Demand side measures including daytime EV charging and time-of-day tariffs are identified as additional levers to reduce non-solar-hour peaks. CEA projections anticipate peak demand could reach 459 GW by FY2035-36 as national installed capacity expands to 1,121 GW.

Key figure — 256 GW peak demand on 25 April 2026