India Achieves Historic Milestone of 100 GW Solar Power Capacity

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

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India has reached a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey by surpassing 100 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar power capacity.

India’s solar power capacity increased 35 times over the past decade, rising from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 100 GW in 2025.
As of January 31, 2025, India’s total installed solar capacity stands at 100.33 GW, with 84.10 GW under implementation and 47.49 GW under tendering.
The rooftop solar sector saw remarkable growth, with 4.59 GW of new capacity installed in 2024, reflecting a 53% increase compared to 2023.
Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh are among the top-performing states contributing significantly to utility-scale solar installations.
India’s solar manufacturing capacity surged from 2 GW in 2014 to 60 GW in 2024, positioning the country as a global leader in solar module production, with an ambitious target of 100 GW by 2030.

Energy Security: Solar energy helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels and imports, making India more self-reliant in power generation.
Environmental Benefits: Solar power is a clean and sustainable energy source, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
Economic Growth: The solar industry has created millions of jobs in installation, maintenance, and manufacturing, boosting employment opportunities.
Cost-Effectiveness: The falling costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels have made solar power an affordable alternative to conventional energy sources.
Rural Electrification: Solar power provides an effective solution for electrifying remote and off-grid areas, improving the quality of life for millions of Indians.

National Solar Mission (NSM): Launched in 2010, this mission aims to achieve 280 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030.
PM SuryaGhar Muft Bijli Yojana: A transformative scheme making rooftop solar a household reality, empowering homes with clean energy.
PM-KUSUM Scheme: Designed to support farmers by promoting solar irrigation pumps and grid-connected renewable energy solutions.
Solar Parks Scheme: Facilitates the development of large-scale solar parks to boost capacity expansion.
Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Encourages domestic manufacturing of solar photovoltaic modules, reducing reliance on imports.
Net Metering Policy: Allows residential and commercial consumers to generate their own solar power and sell surplus electricity to the grid.
International Solar Alliance (ISA): A global initiative led by India to promote solar energy cooperation among solar-rich countries.

Land Acquisition: Availability of land for large-scale solar projects remains a constraint.
Grid Integration: Ensuring stability and efficiency while integrating intermittent solar energy into the power grid.
Financial Constraints: Investment in infrastructure and technological advancements is needed to sustain long-term growth.
Storage Solutions: Development of cost-effective energy storage solutions is crucial for ensuring a stable power supply.

Source: PIB

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