India has overtaken Brazil to become the world’s third-largest country in installed renewable energy capacity, according to Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi.
Joshi made the announcement while citing the latest Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The ranking places India behind only China and the United States in total renewable energy capacity.
As of March 31, 2026, India had a combined non-fossil fuel power capacity of 283.46 gigawatts (GW). Renewable energy accounted for 274.68 GW, while nuclear power contributed another 8.78 GW.
The country recorded a major expansion in clean energy during the 2025–26 financial year, adding 55.3 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity. The addition represents India’s highest annual increase so far and was almost twice the capacity added in the previous year.
India also reached an important milestone ahead of schedule. In June 2025, non-fossil fuel sources accounted for half of the country’s total installed electricity capacity. This achievement came five years earlier than the 2030 target set under India’s commitments to the Paris Agreement.
Renewable energy has also played a growing role in meeting electricity demand. Joshi said that in July 2025, renewable sources supplied 51.5 per cent of India’s electricity demand, which stood at about 203 GW at the time. This was the highest share of renewable energy recorded in the country.
For the 2025–26 financial year, renewable energy, including large hydropower, accounted for 26.2 per cent of India’s total electricity generation, while all non-fossil sources together contributed 29.2 per cent. Total electricity generation during the period reached approximately 1,845.9 billion units.
Solar power remains the main driver of India’s renewable energy expansion. The country’s installed solar capacity has risen to 150.26 GW, more than 53 times the level recorded in 2014.
India added a record 44.61 GW of solar capacity during FY 2025–26. Growth came from large-scale solar projects, rooftop installations and programmes such as PM-KUSUM, which supports the use of solar energy in the agricultural sector.
Rooftop solar and other decentralised renewable energy systems also made a significant contribution, accounting for more than one-third of the new renewable capacity added during the year.
Wind power has similarly expanded, with India’s installed wind capacity reaching 56.09 GW. The country added a record 6.05 GW of wind capacity during the financial year, reinforcing its position among the world’s leading wind energy markets.
Alongside expanding generation capacity, India has increased its ability to manufacture renewable energy equipment domestically. Solar module manufacturing capacity has grown from just 2.3 GW in 2014 to about 172 GW in 2026, while domestic wind turbine manufacturing capacity has reached approximately 24 GW.
Government policies, including tax measures and incentives aimed at boosting local battery manufacturing, have supported the expansion. The measures are part of India’s wider effort to reduce dependence on imports and develop a more self-sufficient clean-energy industry.
India is also pushing ahead with its National Green Hydrogen Mission, backed by an allocation of ₹19,744 crore. The programme targets annual production of five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030.
The government expects the hydrogen programme to attract more than ₹8 lakh crore in investment, generate over 600,000 jobs and contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions.
Other developments under the programme include the emergence of hydrogen hubs, competitive pricing for green hydrogen and ammonia, as well as the introduction of certification and safety standards aimed at supporting the growth of the industry.
India is also investing in electricity transmission infrastructure to ensure that renewable power generated in resource-rich areas can reach consumers. Through initiatives such as the Green Energy Corridor, the government has identified renewable energy zones with an estimated potential of 345 GW.
The rapid expansion of the sector is also creating demand for skilled workers. More than 124,000 people received training in renewable energy-related fields during FY 2025–26, helping to build the workforce required to support the industry’s continued development.
India has set a target of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel power capacity by 2030. With strong growth in solar and wind power, increasing domestic manufacturing and rising investment in emerging technologies such as green hydrogen and battery storage, the country is positioning itself as a major player in the global clean-energy transition.
However, challenges remain, particularly around integrating large amounts of renewable power into the national grid, expanding energy storage and reducing supply-chain dependence. Continued investment, technological development and supportive government policies will be important as India works towards its 2030 clean-energy targets.
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