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India has officially surpassed 100 GW of installed solar power capacity as of January 31, 2025, marking a historic milestone in its clean energy journey. This achievement strengthens India’s position as a global leader in renewable energy and signifies major progress toward its ambitious target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, as outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, highlighted this milestone as a testament to India’s energy self-reliance, driven by key initiatives such as solar parks, rooftop solar schemes, and domestic solar manufacturing.

Growth Trajectory and Achievements

• Installed Capacity Growth:
  • From 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100.33 GW in 2025 – a growth of 3450% over a decade.
  • Solar energy now accounts for 47% of India’s total installed renewable energy capacity.
• Capacity Pipeline:
  • 84.10 GW of solar under implementation.
  • 47.49 GW under tendering.
  • Including hybrid and RTC renewable projects, India has 296.59 GW of solar and hybrid projects in total.
• Record Additions in 2024:
  • 24.5 GW solar capacity added, more than double from 2023.
  • 18.5 GW utility-scale installations – a 2.8 times increase from 2023.
  • 4.59 GW of rooftop solar added, a 53% increase over 2023.
• Top States in utility-scale solar growth:Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.

Solar Manufacturing Boom

• Solar module production capacity has grown from 2 GW (2014) to 60 GW (2024).
• With continued policy support, India is targeting 100 GW of manufacturing capacity by 2030.
• This shift makes India a global hub for solar technology and reduces reliance on imports.

Major Government Initiatives Driving Solar Growth

• National Solar Mission (NSM) (2010):Set long-term targets, with 280 GW of solar capacity by 2030 under its ambit.
• PM SuryaGharMuft Bijli Yojana (2024):
  • A game-changing rooftop solar scheme aiming to empower households with free, clean electricity.
  • Nearly 9 lakh rooftop installations as of early 2025.
• PM-KUSUM Scheme:Promotes solar irrigation pumps and supports farmers with grid-connected solar systems.
• Solar Parks Scheme:Facilitates development of large-scale solar clusters in states to boost capacity.
• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:Incentivizes domestic manufacturing of solar PV modules.
• Net Metering Policy:Allows consumers to generate and export surplus solar power to the grid.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA):India-led global initiative fostering solar energy cooperation among solar-rich countries.

Benefits of Solar Energy for India

• Energy Security: Reduces dependence on fossil fuel imports.
• Environmental Gains: Cuts GHG emissions and combats climate change.
• Economic Boost: Millions of jobs created across installation, manufacturing, and maintenance.
• Affordability: Declining PV costs make solar a cost-effective energy source.
• Rural Electrification: Powers remote and off-grid regions, improving livelihoods.

Challenges and the Way Forward

• Land Acquisition: Scarcity of land hinders large-scale solar deployment.
• Grid Integration: Intermittency of solar power stresses the existing power grid.
• Finance & Investment: Scaling up infrastructure and storage requires sustained capital inflow.
• Storage Solutions: Affordable battery storage is essential for reliability and round-the-clock supply.