Largest Investment by NTPC till date
NTPC is set to make its largest-ever investment in the company’s history. It will spend ₹16.68 lakh crore, or about $ 175 billion, in the next 11 years. The goal is obvious. NTPC is in the process of transforming from a coal-based power generation company into a diversified clean energy company. As part of that plan, the state-run utility plans to almost triple its generation capacity to 250 GW by 2037. If we take up to FY37, in the next almost 10 years, we are going to spend about ₹16.68 lakh crore. That is the kind of size of the investment,” chairman and managing director Gurdeep Singh told reporters. He was talking after the company’s quarterly results.
Three Stages, One Really Long Strip
NTPC will invest in three tranches. It plans to spend 1.08 lakh crore rupees in FY26-27 first. Of this, it has already rolled out ₹56,000 crore.
The company intends to spend ₹5.97 lakh crore, largely on renewable energy, in FY28-32. Spending then shifts to nuclear power from FY33 to FY37. NTPC has pledged another ₹9.63 lakh crore for that push.
For perspective, NTPC’s annual capex has been in the range of ₹35,000-40,000 crore so far. That’s a big jump.
Renewables First, Nuclear Second
“Of course, future growth of NTPC will be driven by renewable energy,” said Singh. He aims to raise renewable capacity to 60 GW from 12 GW by FY32. The target then goes up to 136 GW by FY37.
But this expansion will not be alone. It will be backed by a 38.9 GWh battery energy storage pipeline. NTPC also plans to set up more than 80 GW of pumped storage projects.
Growth on the nuclear power leg will follow FY32, Singh said. NTPC is planning to develop 30 GW of nuclear power by 2047. The company has already started nuclear site studies in 10 states including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Besides advanced reactor technologies, NTPC is also pursuing conventional pressurised heavy water reactors.
One project is already in progress. Anushakti Vidyut Nigam Ltd (Ashwini), a joint venture of NTPC and Nuclear Power Corporation of India, is executing a 2,800 MW project at Mahi Banswara in Rajasthan.
Betting on a Green Hydrogen Hub as Well
NTPC is also setting up a green hydrogen hub for Rs 1 lakh crore. This is aside from its power generation plans. The Pudimadaka site near Visakhapatnam will have an area of 1,200 acres. It will produce hydrogen and downstream green fuels and chemicals.
The Hurrying Up Now
India’s power demand is surging. In June, demand reached a record 271 GW. It is expected to nearly triple to 750 GW by 2050, according to NITI Aayog.
NTPC’s own generation is up 24 per cent on a year-on-year basis. Even with renewables-led backing down of coal plants, this is still the case. “There is no reason that we will be left behind,” Singh said. That line is the urgency of the whole eleven-year bet.
