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India Aims to Have 100 GW of Nuclear Power by 2047: NTPC's Ambitious Plan for Nuclear Expansion

India is setting its sights on an ambitious nuclear power expansion, aiming for 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. To help achieve this target, state-run NTPC plans to develop 30 GW of nuclear power over the next two decades, significantly exceeding its initial target of 10 GW. This expansion, estimated at a cost of Rs5.27 lakh crore, is part of the country's broader strategy to diversify its energy mix and meet its 500 GW non-fossil fuel electricity generation goal by 2030.

NTPC's revised nuclear power capacity target comes after the government’s announcement to open up the sector to foreign and private investment, encouraging increased participation in nuclear energy development. The company is seeking land in states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu for this project, despite facing local opposition and land acquisition challenges. The locations are promising, and NTPC plans to begin with detailed studies at 27 potential sites in these states.

NTPC is already working on two 2.6 GW nuclear plants in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, in collaboration with Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL), the current sole operator of India's nuclear capacity. As part of this expansion, NTPC has formed a new subsidiary, NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam, which will manage investments in the nuclear sector, potentially through international partnerships. NTPC is in discussions with foreign companies, including Russia’s Rosatom, the US's General Electric, and France’s EDF, for collaboration on small modular nuclear reactors.

While the Nuclear Power Corporation of India aims to expand India’s nuclear capacity to 20 GW by 2032, NTPC's efforts represent a significant step toward increasing India's nuclear energy contribution. The Indian government’s initiative to involve private and foreign players is expected to fuel the country’s ambitions, though significant challenges in land acquisition and public resistance remain.

NTPC’s nuclear power venture, if successful, could pave the way for a future in which nuclear energy plays a pivotal role in India’s energy mix, complementing renewable energy sources and contributing to the nation’s climate goals.