India’s renewable energy sector has seen significant growth, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), with a 14.2% increase in the total renewable energy (RE) installed capacity from November 2023 to November 2024. The country’s total non-fossil fuel installed capacity has now reached 213.70 GW, up from 187.05 GW last year. Additionally, the total capacity, including both installed and pipeline projects, has surged to 472.90 GW, marking a 28.5% increase from the previous year’s 368.15 GW. These developments reflect India’s strong commitment to achieving its clean energy goals under the ‘Panchamrit’ targets set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the financial year 2024-2025, India added 14.94 GW of new renewable energy capacity by November 2024, nearly double the 7.54 GW added during the same period in the previous year. In just November 2024, the country added 2.3 GW of new capacity, a significant rise from the 566.06 MW added in November 2023, highlighting a remarkable fourfold increase.
Solar energy continues to be the leader in India’s renewable energy growth. The installed solar capacity rose by 30.2%, from 72.31 GW in 2023 to 94.17 GW in 2024. When considering pipeline projects, the total solar capacity grew by 52.7%, reaching 261.15 GW in 2024, compared to 171.10 GW in 2023. This expansion is a major part of India’s efforts to boost its solar energy output and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Wind power also contributed significantly to the country’s renewable energy progress. Installed wind capacity grew by 7.6%, from 44.56 GW in 2023 to 47.96 GW in 2024. When including pipeline projects, total wind capacity increased by 17.4%, from 63.41 GW to 74.44 GW. This growth in both solar and wind energy highlights India’s ongoing efforts to diversify its renewable energy mix.
Other renewable energy sectors, such as bioenergy, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy, also made steady contributions. Bioenergy capacity increased by 4.6%, from 10.84 GW in 2023 to 11.34 GW in 2024. Small hydro projects saw a slight rise, from 4.99 GW to 5.08 GW, with total capacity, including pipeline projects, reaching 5.54 GW. Large hydroelectric projects grew marginally, with installed capacity increasing from 46.88 GW to 46.97 GW. Total hydroelectric capacity, including pipeline projects, rose from 64.85 GW to 67.02 GW.
In the nuclear energy sector, India’s installed nuclear capacity grew by 9.4%, from 7.48 GW in 2023 to 8.18 GW in 2024. However, the total nuclear capacity, including pipeline projects, remained stable at 22.48 GW. While nuclear energy growth has been modest, it remains an important part of India’s energy mix.
The significant growth in India’s renewable energy sector demonstrates the government’s commitment to scaling up clean energy capacity and reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. The MNRE, led by Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi, has been actively implementing key initiatives to strengthen India’s energy security and meet its climate goals. These developments showcase India’s ongoing efforts to transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon energy future.
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