Renewables Account for Over Half of Total Capacity, Achieving COP26 Target Five Years Ahead of Schedule

NEW DELHI — India's power sector has achieved a significant milestone, with installed power capacity exceeding 500 gigawatts as of September 30, 2025, according to Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi. This achievement underscores the nation's rapid expansion of renewable energy and steady progress toward its climate commitments.

GlobalData statistics indicate India's total installed capacity reached 500.89 gigawatts, with non-fossil fuel capacity at 256.09 gigawatts—slightly exceeding 51% of the total. with fossil fuel capacity at 244.80 GW. This marks the first time renewable energy has dominated India's energy mix.

Within the renewable sector, solar power leads with 127.33 GW, followed by wind power at 53.12 GW. During the 2025-2026 fiscal year alone, India added 28 GW of non-fossil energy capacity and 5.1 GW of fossil energy capacity, underscoring the robust momentum of its clean energy transition.

On July 29, 2025, India's renewable energy met 51.5% of the nation's total electricity demand of 203 GW, setting a historic record. This milestone brings India closer to achieving its “Panchamrit” target—50% non-fossil energy capacity by 2030—five years ahead of schedule, as pledged at COP26.

India's rapid advancement has propelled it to become the world's fourth-largest renewable energy producer, with current installed capacity tripling since 2014. This expansion not only propels the nation toward its net-zero emissions goal but also generates substantial employment opportunities in both urban and rural areas.

Beyond domestic achievements, India plans to donate $25 million (2.21 billion rupees) to the Africa Solar Fund under the International Solar Alliance, supporting off-grid and distributed renewable energy projects across the continent.

Meanwhile, the Indian government is exploring a $11.5 billion (1 trillion rupee) rescue plan to help debt-ridden state power distributors stabilize operations and attract private investment from major energy companies such as Adani Power, Tata Power, and Reliance Power.