According to the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy dataset, coal was the main source of energy (59 per cent) in India in 2025, followed by oil (28 per cent).
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REUTERS/RUPAK DE CHOWDHURI
Even as fossil fuels dominate India’s total energy supply with coal leading the pack, the last calendar year marked the lowest share of hydrocarbons in the consumption mix of the world’s third largest consumer, said the Statistical Review of World Energy.According to the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy dataset, coal was the main source of energy (59 per cent) in India in 2025, followed by oil (28 per cent).In contrast to historical trends, the year saw no overall growth in India’s fossil fuel consumption, with gas consumption falling by 5.9 per cent, coal consumption growing by only 0.6 per cent, and oil by 0.3 per cent. Fossil fuel consumption still dominates in India, making up 93 per cent of total energy supply, although 2025 marked its lowest market share since the dataset came online in 1965, it added.Mild weatherThe cause of this was a mixture of weather-driven and structural effects. The largest factor was milder temperatures during the monsoon season, which substantially reduced cooling demand, and therefore electricity demand growth, the review said.“Alongside this, India set new records for wind and solar generation growth, while good hydro conditions further boosted renewables’ output. India’s behind-the-meter solar capacity increased by 40 per cent Y-o-Y to reach 43.6 gigawatt (GW), which was the largest increase seen anywhere outside China in 2025,” it noted.
