India's renewable energy capacity soars to 227 gw, eyes net-zero by 2070

By: Team India Tracker

India has outlined ambitious climate goals, aiming to cut the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 percent by 2030, ensure that 50 percent of its total installed power capacity comes from renewable sources by the same year, and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking at the 11th India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025 in New Delhi, highlighted India's significant strides in renewable energy, noting a remarkable 4,000 percent surge in installed solar capacity. He announced that the country's total renewable energy capacity has reached an impressive 227 GW and suggested that India may be the first G20 nation to fully meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Goyal spotlighted Palli village in Jammu and Kashmir as India’s first carbon-neutral panchayat, achieved through solar energy and efficient energy practices. He also praised the IESW venue, Yashobhoomi, for embodying sustainability through rooftop solar panels, wastewater recycling, and energy-efficient design. Reflecting on a decade of manufacturing progress, he shared that India’s solar PV module capacity has grown nearly 38 times, and cell capacity has expanded 21 times. He also mentioned initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, aimed at providing rooftop solar systems to 1 crore households, and the PM Kusum Yojana, which promotes solar pump use in agriculture. Additionally, a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme has been introduced to encourage the domestic production of Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC).

India has outlined ambitious climate goals, aiming to cut the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 percent by 2030, ensure that 50 percent of its total installed power capacity comes from renewable sources by the same year, and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. The adoption of low-carbon technologies is projected to open up a market opportunity worth up to US$ 80 billion in India by 2030.

Source: Renewable Energy Statistics 2023-24

As part of its clean energy push, India plans to produce five million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030. To support this, the country’s electrolyser manufacturing capacity is expected to reach 8 GW annually by 2025. By 2030, the green hydrogen market could be valued at around US$ 8 billion, and India would need at least 50 GW of electrolyser capacity to scale up production. By 2040, it's anticipated that nearly 49 percent of India's electricity will come from renewable sources, supported by advancements in battery technology that will significantly reduce solar energy costs by as much as 66 percent compared to current levels. Transitioning from coal to renewable energy is estimated to save the country approximately ₹54,000 crore (US$ 8.43 billion) each year.

According to the latest Renewable Energy Statistics 2023-24, as of 31st March 2024, India’s total installed power generation capacity had reached 441.97 GW, marking a 60.19 percent increase from 275.90 GW in 2014–15. The installed capacity in the renewable energy sector, including large hydro projects, rose from 81.22 GW in 2014–15 to 190.57 GW in 2023–24, registering a growth of 134.63 percent during this period. Specifically, the installed capacity from solar, wind, bioenergy, and small hydro sources increased significantly—from 39.95 GW in 2014–15 to 143.64 GW by March 2024, reflecting a remarkable growth of 259.55 percent.

The top five states in terms of total installed renewable energy capacity as of March 2024 were Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, together accounting for around 61 percent of India’s total renewable capacity. In the solar energy segment, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra emerged as the leading contributors, jointly accounting for 70.76 percent of the nation’s solar power installations. According to the Renewable Energy Statistics 2024 published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), India ranks 4th globally in total renewable energy installed capacity. It also holds the 4th position worldwide in wind and bioenergy installations, and the 5th position in both solar and hydro power capacity.