New Delhi:
In a significant leap towards a sustainable future, India has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing 100 GW of installed solar power capacity. This achievement is a testament to the country’s unwavering commitment to renewable energy and its ambitious goal of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, attributed this success to innovative initiatives such as solar panels, solar parks, and rooftop solar projects. Over the past decade, India’s solar sector has witnessed an extraordinary growth of 3,450%, escalating from a mere 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100 GW in 2025. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been instrumental in boosting rooftop solar installations, aiming to supply solar power to one crore rural households by March 2027.
As of January 31, 2025, India’s total installed solar capacity stands at 100.33 GW, with an additional 84.10 GW under implementation and 47.49 GW under tendering. The year 2024 saw a remarkable addition of 24.5 GW of solar capacity, more than doubling the installations compared to 2023. This rapid expansion underscores India’s determination to lead in renewable energy.
Minister Joshi emphasized the revolutionary impact of solar initiatives, noting that they have transformed India’s energy landscape. The country is now on track to achieve its 2030 target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity, with solar energy playing a pivotal role. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has been a game-changer, offering subsidies of up to 40% to make rooftop solar panels more affordable, resulting in over 9 lakh rooftop solar installations.
In 2024, the rooftop solar sector saw a 53% increase in new installations, with 4.59 GW of new capacity added. Solar energy now accounts for 47% of India’s total installed renewable energy capacity, highlighting its dominance in the country’s renewable energy mix. Hybrid and round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy projects are also advancing, with 64.67 GW under implementation and tendered, contributing to the overall solar and hybrid project total.
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh have emerged as top performers in utility-scale solar installations, significantly contributing to India’s total solar capacity. The country’s solar module production capacity has also seen a substantial increase, from 2 GW in 2014 to 60 GW in 2024, and is projected to reach 100 GW by 2030 with continued policy support.
