In Short : India’s renewable energy (RE) capacity achieved a robust 14.2% year-on-year growth, driven by advancements in solar, wind, and other sustainable energy sectors. This growth underscores India’s commitment to transitioning to green energy, bolstering its climate action goals, and enhancing energy security. The expansion aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and positions India as a leader in renewable energy development.
In Detail : Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has reported significant progress in India’s renewable energy sector from November 2023 to November 2024. This progress underscores India’s commitment to achieving its clean energy targets in line with the ‘Panchamrit’ goals set by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Record Capacity Additions
As of November 2024, the total non-fossil fuel installed capacity has reached 213.70 GW, marking an impressive 14.2% increase from last year’s 187.05 GW. Meanwhile, the total non-fossil fuel capacity, which includes both installed and pipeline projects, surged to 472.90 GW, a substantial 28.5% increase from the previous year’s 368.15 GW.
During FY 24-25 a total of 14.94 GW of new RE capacity was added till November 2024, nearly doubling the 7.54 GW added during the same period in FY 23-24. In November 2024 alone, 2.3 GW of new capacity was added— marking a dramatic fourfold increase from the 566.06 MW added in November 2023.
Solar and Wind Power Experience Significant Growth
India’s renewable energy sector has seen widespread growth across all major categories. Solar power continues to lead, with installed capacity rising from 72.31 GW in 2023 to 94.17 GW in 2024, a robust growth of 30.2%. Including pipeline projects, total solar capacity surged by 52.7%, reaching 261.15 GW in 2024, compared to 171.10 GW in 2023. Wind power also made notable contributions, with installed capacity rising from 44.56 GW in 2023 to 47.96 GW in 2024, reflecting a growth of 7.6%. Total wind capacity, including pipeline projects, increased by 17.4%, from 63.41 GW in 2023 to 74.44 GW in 2024.
Steady Contributions from Bioenergy, Hydro, and Nuclear Sectors
Bioenergy and hydroelectric projects also made steady contributions to the renewable energy mix. Bioenergy capacity rose from 10.84 GW in 2023 to 11.34 GW in 2024, reflecting a growth of 4.6%. Small hydro projects saw a slight increase, from
4.99 GW in 2023 to 5.08 GW in 2024, with total capacity, including pipeline projects, reaching 5.54 GW. Large hydroelectric projects grew incrementally, with installed capacity rising from 46.88 GW in 2023 to 46.97 GW in 2024, and total capacity, including pipeline projects, increasing to 67.02 GW from 64.85 GW in the previous year.
In nuclear energy, installed nuclear capacity grew from 7.48 GW in 2023 to 8.18 GW in 2024, while the total capacity, including pipeline projects, remained steady at 22.48GW.
These impressive figures underscore the Government of India’s continued efforts to scale up renewable energy capacity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. MNRE under Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi has been taking various key initiatives reflecting India’s dedication to fulfilling its climate commitments while strengthening energy security.
