India Needs 40x Surge in Non-Fossil Energy to meet Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision: EY–CII report

• Viksit Bharat 2047: Energy demand to triple
• India’s Civil Nuclear Energy Set to Scale from 8.8 GW to 100 GW by 2047
• Renewables outpacing transmission — urgent need for green corridors

NEW DELHI, September 25, 2025:  India has crossed a major milestone in its energy transition, achieving 50% non-fossil power capacity in 2025 five years ahead of its 2030 target. A new report by EY and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) highlights that India’s journey to becoming a developed economy by 2047 will require tripling primary energy supply to nearly 35,000 TWh and scaling up non-fossil sources forty-fold to meet two-thirds of the demand.

The report, Eigenvectors of Net Zero Energy Transition: Pathways to Viksit Bharat 2047, frames India’s net-zero ambitions as a multidimensional challenge balancing energy security, affordability, competitiveness, and sustainability. With a projected US$30 trillion GDP and 1.5 billion population by 2047, the analysis underscores both the scale of the opportunity and the risks that must be managed.

Somesh Kumar, Partner & Leader, Power & Utilities, EY India said, “India’s net-zero transition is not just a technology challenge it is a multidimensional optimization problem. Achieving resilience will require modernizing grids, scaling renewables and nuclear, building secure supply chains, and addressing health risks such as PM2.5 exposure. By adopting a human-centric approach, India can achieve its net-zero ambition while ensuring inclusive growth.”

Key findings from the EY – CII report:

• Energy demand growth: India’s primary energy needs will rise threshold to ~35,000 TWh (~3,000 Mtoe) by 2047.
• Non-fossil scale-up: Clean energy supply must expand ~40 times current levels to provide two-thirds of demand.
• Affordability risks: Energy cost share (ECS) must be kept below 10–11% of GDP to sustain growth.
• Air pollution: PM2.5 exposure underscores the need for integrated health, energy, and environmental policies.
• Technology imports: Low-carbon tech imports already account for 0.21% of GDP in FY25, highlighting the need for domestic manufacturing resilience.        

Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry said “India stands at a defining moment in its energy transition journey, having crossed 50% non-fossil capacity five years ahead of its NDCs, a testament to its ambition and ability to balance sustainability with growth. The report shows that becoming a developed economy by 2047 will require three times more primary energy supply and a forty-fold scale-up of non-fossil sources, highlighting opportunities and challenges. Its human-centric lens treats the net-zero transition as a multidimensional optimization challenge, providing actionable guidance for policymakers, businesses, and investors.”

The report also calls for legal clarity on permissible private sector activities in nuclear power and fuel cycle and strengthening of nuclear-grade supply chains through quality assurance and vendor development. It also asks the government to involve private sector role through a defined framework for Bharat Small Reactors.

The findings show that India’s primary energy supply must triple by 2047, while non-fossil capacity must expand forty-fold to ensure two-thirds of demand is met through clean sources. With energy consumption expected to surge alongside economic growth, the report warns that energy affordability and supply security will be as critical as decarbonization.

The EY – CII report calls for a shift from fragmented, target-driven planning to integrated, risk-informed policymaking. By balancing affordability, security, sustainability, and competitiveness, India can transform its energy transition into a driver of economic growth, social well-being, and global leadership.

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