Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation’s (TANGEDCO; now known as Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL)) CO₂ emissions analysis, conducted through a distribution licensee-specific tracking methodology, reveals the urgent need for accelerated decarbonisation of Tamil Nadu’s electricity grid. By linking annual procurement data with the Central Electricity Authority’s (CEA) CO₂ Baseline Database, the report offers a disaggregated view of TANGEDCO’s emissions over a seven-year period, from FY 2017–18 to FY 2023–24. This analysis, published by Auroville Consulting, establishes a replicable model for transparent and accurate emissions disclosure and reporting and supports improved regulatory oversight, energy planning, and compliance tracking.

The report provides a detailed examination of TANGEDCO’s power procurement composition, renewable energy contribution, emission intensity trends, and year-on-year emission shifts. It equips planners and regulators with the insights needed to track Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) performance, assess fossil fuel dependency, and identify inflection points in Tamil Nadu’s energy transition. Key indicators such as fossil-fuel share, emission factors by fuel, and annual procurement trends are all contextualised within national benchmarks, offering a clear lens into where progress has plateaued and where course correction is needed.

Key Findings:

• Fossil fuels continue to dominate TANGEDCO’s energy mix. Despite fluctuations ranging from 60% to 43%, the combined share of coal, lignite, and gas over seven years accounted for an average of 52% of the procurement, highlighting sustained dependence on high-emission sources.
• Renewable energy (RE) procurement in FY 2023-24 was 9%. Since the beginning of the analysis period, the share has grown, but falls well short of policy mandates, missing the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) target of 27% by 18% in FY 2023-24. RE procurement rose 29% over the assessment period, driven mainly by solar and hydro (72%), while wind and biomass remained minimal at 28%.
• Emissions trends mirror fossil fuel reliance, peaking at 83.05 million tCO₂ in FY 2023-24. Continued dependence on coal and lignite, particularly increasing lignite emissions, has limited emission reduction.
• Emissions intensity has increased in recent years. After dropping to 0.65 tCO₂/MWh in FY 2020-21, TANGEDCO’s emission factor (EF) rose to 0.75 tCO₂/MWh in FY 2023-24, exceeding the national average of 0.73 tCO₂/MWh. This increase is attributed to higher coal and lignite procurement and a decline in RE procurement.