The year 2025 has emerged as a major milestone in India’s move towards cleaner energy, with the country reaching 50% non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity five years ahead of its global climate commitment, reports CXO Digital Pulse.
India had pledged under its Nationally Determined Contribution to achieve this level by 2030. However, by 2025, non-fossil fuel sources already account for half of the country’s installed power capacity. Against a target of 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, India’s combined installed and under-construction capacity reached about 507 GW this year. Over the past decade, non-fossil capacity has grown from 81 GW to 263 GW, an increase of 225%.
Solar power leads growth
Solar energy has been the biggest contributor to this progress. Installed solar capacity has risen sharply from just 2.8 GW in 2014 to 133 GW in 2025. This expansion has been driven by large solar parks, rooftop installations and combined renewable energy projects.
Government programmes have also played a key role. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to provide rooftop solar systems to one crore households, has helped speed up adoption, especially in homes.
Wind and bioenergy show steady rise
Wind power has continued to grow steadily, with capacity increasing from about 21 GW in 2014 to 54 GW in 2025. Bioenergy has also expanded, rising from 8.1 GW to 12 GW, supported by greater use of farm waste and organic material.
Between 2022 and 2024, India ranked as the world’s third-largest contributor to new solar power capacity, adding around 46 GW during this period.
Government highlights achievement
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said in July 2025 that India’s progress shows leadership at a time when the world is searching for ways to tackle climate change. He said achieving the 50% non-fossil fuel mark five years early is a matter of pride and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for guiding the country towards a cleaner and more self-reliant energy future.
Manufacturing capacity expands rapidly
Along with power generation, India has made strong progress in renewable energy manufacturing. Domestic production has reduced reliance on imports and strengthened supply chains.
Solar module manufacturing capacity has grown from 2 GW to 123 GW. Solar cell production, which was almost absent before 2014, has reached 27 GW, while wafer manufacturing capacity now stands at 2.2 GW. India has also set up 3.2 GW of fully integrated facilities that cover the entire solar manufacturing process.
Global recognition and cost savings
India’s clean energy push has gained international attention. In 2023, the country became the world’s third-largest producer of solar power, overtaking Japan, with solar electricity generation of 1,08,494 gigawatt hours.
The International Renewable Energy Agency has estimated that India’s shift to clean energy has saved nearly Rs 4 lakh crore in fuel costs and pollution-related expenses. Savings from reduced fossil fuel use alone are estimated at about $14.9 billion.
Energy storage gains importance
In 2025, energy storage became a key part of India’s renewable energy plans rather than a future option. The government introduced support for battery storage projects, including financial assistance for large grid-based systems.
Pumped storage projects have also regained attention, with several projects being planned or approved across different states. These efforts are aimed at ensuring a stable power supply as renewable energy capacity continues to grow rapidly.
