NTPC Increases Nuclear Capacity Target to 50 GW by 2047

NTPC, a state-run power major, has announced an increase in its targeted nuclear capacity addition to about 50 GW by 2047. This represents an upward revision from the 30 GW target previously stated in its annual report. The new target accounts for half of India’s national goal to build 100 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2047.

Nuclear power is becoming a critical long-term growth opportunity for NTPC, aligning with national policy priorities for energy security. Future nuclear projects are anticipated to operate under regulated cost-plus economics. The pace of development will depend on state utilities formalizing long-term demand.

Currently, work is in progress on the 2,800 MW Mahi Banswara Atomic Power Project in Rajasthan. This project, estimated at ₹42,000 crore, is being executed through ASHVINI, a joint venture. Nuclear Power Corporation of India holds a 51% stake in ASHVINI, with NTPC owning the remaining 49%.

India's Power Sector Emissions Flat Amid Clean Energy Surge

According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), power-sector carbon dioxide emissions in India remained flat from the first half of 2024 to the first half of 2026. This stability occurred as an expansion of non-fossil capacity absorbed all growth in electricity demand. The report highlights that this is the first time in over 50 years that coal power in India has not grown over a two-year period, even with an increase in overall electricity demand.

Clean energy sources met the entire 7% rise in electricity demand over these two years, providing an additional 63 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity. Solar capacity additions, totaling 77 gigawatts, were the primary driver, fulfilling 60% of the power demand growth. Additional generation from wind contributed 13 TWh, hydro 8 TWh, and nuclear energy 7 TWh. These non-fossil gains collectively reached 70 TWh, exceeding the country's net electricity demand growth during the period.

US Funds Thai SMR Feasibility Study

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and Thailand's Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) signed an agreement on September 14 in Bangkok to fund a feasibility study for small modular reactor (SMR) deployment. The study will assist EGAT in evaluating potential locations, costs, and regulatory steps necessary for implementing SMR technologies, which are projected to generate around 600 MWe.

The study will be vendor-neutral, considering reactor designs from multiple companies, including GE-Hitachi, Holtec, Kairos Power, NuScale, TerraPower, Westinghouse, and X-Energy. The USTDA will issue a request for proposals for this study to interested firms from the United States. This funding aligns with the USTDA's mission to connect companies from the United States with export opportunities in emerging markets by supporting early-stage infrastructure projects.

Narin Phoawanich, Governor of EGAT, stated that the grant provides a foundation for Thailand to assess SMR technology's role in strengthening energy security and promoting a cleaner energy future. Thomas Hardy, Deputy Director and Acting Director of the USTDA, emphasized that this partnership advances the commitment of the United States to innovation and leadership in advanced civil nuclear energy, supporting the deployment of advanced technologies globally.

This initiative follows a previous USTDA announcement in February, which provided USD2.7 million in funding for technical assistance to Meralco PowerGen Corp to evaluate SMR designs and develop an implementation roadmap for the Philippines' first SMR nuclear power plant. Thailand's government has identified SMR deployment as a component of its long-term power development strategy. In June 2025, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power also signed a memorandum of understanding with EGAT to cooperate on SMRs and explore their feasibility for future projects in Thailand.