Energy Analysis in India: Coal and Crude Oil Dominance, Renewable Energy on the Rise, and Urgent Need for Diversification and Accurate Data

1. Energy production: The total primary energy supply is dominated by coal (4,15,032 ktoe) and crude oil (2,46,987 ktoe), followed by natural gas (59,939 ktoe), nuclear (12,278 ktoe), hydro (13,070 ktoe), solar and wind (15,429 ktoe), and others (-141 ktoe). Coal is the largest contributor to energy production.
2. Energy imports and exports: Energy imports are significant, with crude oil being the largest imported energy source (2,16,643 ktoe), followed by coal (1,15,985 ktoe), oil products (42,216 ktoe), natural gas (28,468 ktoe), and others (653 ktoe). Energy exports are relatively small and mainly consist of oil products (-65,425 ktoe).
3. Energy consumption: Final energy consumption is dominated by industry (2,65,948 ktoe), followed by residential (58,817 ktoe), other sectors (93,492 ktoe), transport (57,216 ktoe), and non-energy use (20,421 ktoe). The industrial sector is the largest consumer of energy.
4. Sector-wise consumption: Within the industrial sector, iron and steel (40,652 ktoe) and chemical and petrochemical (14,259 ktoe) are the major consumers of energy. In the transport sector, road transport (46,325 ktoe) is the largest consumer of energy. In the residential sector, non-specified (other) (28,724 ktoe) is the major consumer of energy.
5. Electricity production: Electricity production is dominated by main activity producer electricity plants (2,17,044 ktoe), followed by autoproducer electricity plants (19,449 ktoe), and oil refineries (11,594 ktoe). The main activity producer electricity plants are the largest contributors to electricity production.
6. Renewable energy: Solar and wind energy production (1,79,412 GWh) is significant and contributes significantly to electricity production. This indicates a growing trend towards renewable energy sources.
7. Statistical differences: There are significant statistical differences (48,322 ktoe), indicating possible measurement errors or data discrepancies in the energy accounting.
8. Conclusion: The data shows a heavy reliance on coal and crude oil for energy production and a significant import dependency for crude oil. There is a growing trend towards renewable energy, with solar and wind energy contributing significantly to electricity production. However, there is a need for further diversification of energy sources and reduction of import dependency to ensure energy security and sustainability. Additionally, addressing statistical differences and improving data accuracy and consistency will be important for robust energy planning and policymaking.

https://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/Energy_Statistics_2023/Chapter%207-%20Energy%20Balance%20and%20Sankey%20Diagram.pdf