Support CleanTechnica’s work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe.
Here is the truth the rest of the world isn’t paying too much attention to: India has emerged as a renewable energy powerhouse, transforming from a coal-dependent economy to becoming the world’s third-largest renewable energy producer in less than a decade. This remarkable transition showcases how developing nations can successfully balance rapid economic growth with sustainable energy development.
Record-Breaking Growth Trajectory
The numbers tell a story of unprecedented expansion. India’s renewable energy capacity has reached 203.18 GW as of October 2024, representing 46.3% of the country’s total installed capacity of 452.69 GW. This achievement positions India ahead of many developed nations in renewable energy deployment and demonstrates the feasibility of large-scale clean energy transitions in emerging economies.
The solar sector has been the crown jewel of this transformation. From a modest 9.01 GW in March 2016, India’s solar capacity skyrocketed to 97.86 GW by January 2025 — an extraordinary 10-fold increase in just nine years. This growth trajectory has established India as a global solar manufacturing and deployment hub, driving down costs worldwide through economies of scale.
Diversified Renewable Portfolio
While solar expansion captures headlines, India’s renewable strategy extends far beyond photovoltaics. Wind power blows powerfully into the energy mix, with recent peak generation reaching 28,974 MW in January 2025. The government has committed to issuing bids for at least 10 GW of wind capacity annually from 2023-24 to 2027-28, ensuring continued diversification.
India ranks fifth globally in hydroelectric power capacity, with both large-scale projects and distributed small hydro installations contributing to the renewable portfolio. The country is also exploring cutting-edge technologies, including a recent partnership between Eco Wave Power and Bharat Petroleum to develop India’s estimated 40,000 MW wave energy potential.
Infrastructure Innovation at Scale
The infrastructure development supporting this growth has been equally impressive. India now operates 58 solar parks with a combined sanctioned capacity of 40 GW, creating renewable energy clusters that optimize land use and transmission efficiency. This systematic approach to large-scale deployment has become a model for other developing nations.
Recent momentum has accelerated even further. In fiscal year 2025, India added 25 GW of renewable capacity — a 35% increase over the previous year’s 18.57 GW addition. This acceleration demonstrates the maturation of India’s renewable energy ecosystem, from manufacturing and financing to project development and grid integration.
There are also projects done by partnerships from foreign investments. One example is the ACEN Masaya Solar Facility.
ACEN is part of the Philippine’s Ayala Group’s energy platform, a 420 MWp solar farm located in Madhya Pradesh and since 2024 has been generating a maximum of about 690 GWh of clean energy annually, preventing over 635,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.
This project created about 500 jobs, and is a partnership between ACEN and UPC Solar Asia Pacific financed by a 20-year loan from the State Bank of India. The $220 million project is now selling power to the Solar Energy Corporation of India under a long-term agreement.
The ACEN and UPC Solar Asia Pacific Masaya Solar Farm. (Photo from ACEN)
Climate Leadership & Global Impact
India’s renewable achievements extend beyond domestic benefits to global climate action. The country has reduced its carbon intensity by 7% through FY24 while achieving 50% renewable energy in its grid five years ahead of target. This performance exemplifies how emerging economies can decouple economic growth from carbon emissions.
The transformation has positioned India as a credible leader in international climate forums. With current renewable capacity at approximately 209 GW by December 2024, the country is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious 2030 target of 500 GW from non-fossil fuel sources, though significant challenges remain.
Beyond environmental benefits, India’s renewable transition has generated substantial economic advantages. The sector has created millions of jobs across manufacturing, installation, and maintenance, while reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports. Wind power’s unique characteristic of generating nearly 60% of its output during nighttime hours complements solar generation patterns, providing pricing advantages comparable to stored solar power.
India’s renewable energy journey since 2016 represents one of the most successful large-scale energy transitions in modern history. By combining ambitious policy targets with systematic infrastructure development and technological innovation, India has demonstrated that developing nations can lead global clean energy adoption while maintaining robust economic growth. As the country continues toward its 2030 goals, its experience provides a valuable blueprint for sustainable development worldwide.
India’s Solar Energy Boom
India has a cumulative solar power capacity of 119.02 GW as of July 2025, with ground-mounted solar plants, grid-connected rooftop systems, hybrid projects, and off-grid installations contributing to this total. The country possesses significant solar potential, receiving abundant solar radiation throughout the year. India aims to become a global leader in solar energy, driven by the National Solar Mission (NSM) launched in 2010 and supported by government initiatives like the PM-KUSUM Scheme and the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
India’s renewable energy journey was built on solar (Photo from the UN)
At the heart of India’s solar revolution are two major government schemes managed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in early 2024, aims to equip a remarkable 10 million households with rooftop solar systems. According to press releases from India’s official Press Information Bureau (PIB), this program is expected to add 30 GW of solar capacity to the residential sector, providing households with free or low-cost electricity. A key component of this initiative, which has a total outlay of approximately $96 million, is the development of a “Model Solar Village” in every district, where each selected village receives around $1.2 million in central financial assistance.
The PM-KUSUM Scheme is a program specifically targeting the agricultural sector that was extended until March 2026. This scheme, as noted by the EnergyMonitor.ai publication in April 2025, aims to improve farmers’ income and reduce their dependence on diesel pumps by providing financial support for the installation of 10,000 MW of decentralized solar power plants, 1.5 million standalone solar-powered agriculture pumps, and the solarization of 3.5 million grid-connected pumps.
Beyond residential and agricultural use, India’s strategy also includes fostering a robust solar ecosystem through large-scale projects and domestic manufacturing. The Solar Parks Scheme, facilitated by the MNRE, promotes massive grid-connected solar power projects by providing essential infrastructure like land, power evacuation facilities, and road access. According to recent PIB and MNRE reports, as of March 31, 2025, 55 solar parks with a combined capacity of nearly 40 GW have been approved across 13 states, with over 12.8 GW already commissioned in 24 parks.
Fighting Excessive Solar Cost
To reduce import dependency, the Indian government also launched the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High-Efficiency Solar PV Modules, a program with a budget of approximately $2.88 billion. This scheme, as reported by EnergyMonitor.ai, aims to boost domestic manufacturing, and Letters of Award have already been issued for setting up 48.3 GW of new manufacturing capacity.
India’s push for solar is reflected in some of the world’s most ambitious projects. Blackridge Research highlighted several of these in its April 2025 report on upcoming renewable energy projects. One such project is the monumental Khavda Renewable Energy Park in the Kutch district of Gujarat. This 30 GW solar and wind hybrid project is set to become the world’s largest renewable energy park, with 2 GW of capacity already operational as of early 2025. In the high-altitude region of Ladakh, another landmark project is underway: a 13 GW solar power plant with a battery energy storage system (BESS). Expected to be completed by 2030, this initiative includes extensive transmission infrastructure to meet the energy needs of the Union Territory.
Summarizing Solar Capacity & Composition
Total cumulative solar power capacity as of July 2025 119.02 GW
Ground-mounted solar plants 90.99 GW
Grid-connected rooftop solar systems 19.88 GW
Hybrid projects (solar component) 3.06 GW
Off-grid solar installations 5.09 GW
Sign up for CleanTechnica’s Weekly Substack for Zach and Scott’s in-depth analyses and high level summaries, sign up for our daily newsletter, and follow us on Google News!
Advertisement
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for 15 new cleantech stories a day. Or sign up for our weekly one on top stories of the week if daily is too frequent.
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.