NTPC : 50 Years of Infinite Possibilities for India

Write-up Courtesy NTPC Limited | New Delhi

With a steadfast commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence, NTPC aligns its vision with India’s growth, championing the journey towards clean power for all and a Viksit Bharat by 2047

On 7^th November 2024, NTPC celebrated a momentous milestone its 50th Raising Day_ marking five decades of steadfast dedication and commitment to fuelling India’s energy aspirations. Over the past fifty years, NTPC has illuminated every corner of the country, leaving behind a legacy of progress and empowerment.

From its humble beginnings with a single thermal power plant, NTPC has evolved as India’s largest integrated energy company and one of the biggest power utilities in the world.

NTPC Limited is one of the key pillars sustaining India’s economic growth since its inception in 1975. With over84 GW installed capacity, the Public Sector Enterprise contributes 25% of the total electricity produced in India, exemplifying its pivotal role in lighting up every fourth bulb in the country. 

NTPC’s goal has always been to deliver power that is economical, efficient, and ecologically sustainable. To meet this objective, it offers a diversified fuel mix comprising solar, wind, gas, hydro, coal, and floating solar.

As a developing country with a rapidly growing economy, India faces a high demand for energy. As coal continues to be a cornerstone in India’s energy mix, NTPC has played a pivotal role in harnessing this resource to meet the country’s growing energy demands with reliable power generation.

Leading the energy transition journey of India, NTPC currently has nearly9 GW of operational RE capacity, with approximately 14 GW in pipeline and an ambitious target to add renewable capacity of 7 GW in FY26, and 8 GW annually from FY27 onwards till FY32.

While the company remains firmly anchored in its rich legacy, it is credited with an eye on the future, exploring new frontiers such as nuclear energy. In September 2024, the Government of India granted approval for the formation of Anushakti Vidhyut Nigam Ltd. (ASHVINI), a joint venture between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) (51%) and NTPC Ltd. (49%), for building, owning, and operating nuclear power plants in India. Furthermore, the company has also established a wholly owned subsidiary, NTPC Parmanu Urja Nigam Limited (NPUNL), dedicated to the nuclear energy business.

By 2032, NTPC aims to achieve a total portfolio of 150 GW, with non-fossil fuel-based capacity making up nearly 40 per cent of the company’s portfolio, i.e. 60 GW of RE capacity.

Taking a significant step to achieve this target, NTPC successfully listed its subsidiary, NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) in November 2024, with the aim to accelerate renewable energy adoption through large-scale solar, wind, hybrid, green hydrogen projects and energy storage solutions.

Being the first energy company to declare its energy compact goals as part of the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE), NTPC stands at the forefront in innovation and adoption of green technologies. In November 2024, NTPC became the first company in the world to synthesize CO2 from flue gas using hydrogen produced by a PEM electrolyser and converting it into methanol at its Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power station.

The company is also making significant contributions to India’s decarbonization efforts by integrating hydrogen technologies in mobility, blending it with PNG, and in production of green methanol. With a strong focus on research and development, NTPC is already advancing in areas like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Carbon capture & Utilisation, Waste-to-Energy, Pump Storage and Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Through these efforts, the company continues to drive innovation and pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

In its efforts to strengthen India’s Net Zero goals, NTPC has teamed with NITI Aayog. Today, NTPC townships at Kudgi and RGPPL are the first townships in India to receive IGBC certification for Net Zero Energy and Net Zero Water, respectively. NETRA, company’s R&D wing has also received the IGBC certification for being a Net Zero building.

To fulfill its vision for a sustainable future, NTPC has committed to achieve 10% reduction in carbon intensity by 2032. The company avoided 18 million tonnes of GHG emissions through non-fossil fuel power generation in FY 2023-24.

Being a responsible organization, NTPC has made significant strides in championing the circular economy. By reusing industrial by-products and harnessing the potential of waste, NTPC has achieved an impressive 100% ash utilization in FY25. This achievement is the result of numerous Waste-to-Wealth projects that transform waste into valuable resources.

In recent years, the company has ventured beyond its primary industry to engage in consultancy, power trading, power professional training, rural electrification, coal mining and e-mobility, in order to strengthen its main business.

With all its accomplishments, NTPC ranked 368^th in Forbes Global 2000 List for 2025. The company was also featured in the TIME Best Companies Asia-Pacific 2025 List. 

With a comprehensive People-before-PLF policy, NTPC is recognised as one of the finest workplaces in the country. The company received the prestigious ATD Best Award for the year 2025 for the 8^th time in a row.

The company has been the recipient of UN Women India WEPs Award for its flagship CSR initiative – Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM). Alongside, the company is also honoured with the 19^th CII-ITC Sustainability Awards 2024 for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility.

These achievements reflect NTPC’s significant contribution to the global energy landscape and underscore its recognition on the world stage.

As India strides toward becoming a developed nation and one of the top five global economies, NTPC is poised to meet the country’s evolving energy needs. With a steadfast commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence, NTPC aligns its vision with India’s growth, championing the journey towards clean power for all and a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

(Shilpa Bichitra | Special Edition | 2025)