Mehsana: The cost of solar power in India has fallen to ₹2.15 per unit, and even with battery storage, it remains ₹2.70 per unit, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday, highlighting the rapid expansion of the country’s renewable energy sector, reports The Economic Times.
Speaking at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference at Ganpat University in Mehsana, Joshi noted that India’s solar capacity has surged from 2.8 gigawatts (GW) in 2014 to 125 GW in 2025, making India a global leader in solar energy. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, around 60% of the state’s installed power capacity now comes from renewable sources.
Joshi recalled the early days of India’s solar initiative: “When Prime Minister Modi started the solar energy mission 25 years ago, the cost per unit was between ₹18 and ₹20. He had the vision to see where we would be decades later. Today, that vision has turned into a nationwide revolution.”
Praising Gujarat’s contributions, he said, “Mehsana is a very dynamic region and a shining example of clean energy. Modhera in Mehsana district is perhaps the only village in the world to generate 24×7 clean electricity, which is a matter of pride.”
On climate change, Joshi warned, “Our growing demand is making us unsustainable. We are harming nature and biodiversity.” He noted that the Earth’s temperature has already risen 1.1°C since the Industrial Revolution and cautioned, “We have a maximum of seven years before it reaches 1.5°C. Beyond that, the situation will become extremely serious.”
Appealing to young people and industries, he urged, “Now is the time to protect our planet and biodiversity. We must support solar and clean energy to ensure a sustainable future.”
