India needs to add 2,000 GW energy capacity in the next two decades, says Sagar Adani

Calling energy the “foundation” of India’s growth story, Sagar Adani on Wednesday said the country must urgently reduce its structural dependence on imported fuels and build a domestically anchored energy backbone to ensure long-term resilience.

Speaking at The Economist Resilient Futures Summit, the Executive Director of Adani Green Energy Ltd underlined that global disruptions—from geopolitical conflicts to volatile energy markets—have made resilience a central economic priority for nations, especially India.

“We must reduce structural dependence on imported energy. And we must build an energy backbone anchored in resources that are available within the country,” he said, adding that electrification would be central to achieving this goal.

Highlighting the scale of India’s challenge, Adani noted that per capita energy consumption in the country remains significantly below global benchmarks. 

“On a per capita basis, India’s energy consumption is about one-third of the global average, and roughly one-fifth of China’s,” he said, stressing that India’s development path would require a “structural leap” rather than incremental expansion.

India needs to add 2,000 GW capacity in the next two decades

According to him, India would need to add nearly 2,000 GW of new capacity over the next two decades while ensuring that energy remains affordable, accessible, and cleaner. “So if resilience is the goal, then abundant, reliable, and affordable energy is the foundation,” he said.

Adani emphasised that energy sits at the core of multiple national priorities. “Water security needs energy—for desalination, treatment, and distribution. Food security needs energy—for fertilisers, irrigation, and logistics. Digital leadership needs energy—for data centres, AI, and computing infrastructure,” he said, adding that economic stability itself depends on affordable energy access.

Adani credited policy continuity and reforms over the past decade for enabling infrastructure growth and private investment. 

“The real question is not whether India will need more energy. That is already clear. The real question is: How fast can we build it?” he said.