India’s Renewable Energy Capacity Achieves Historic Growth in FY 2024-25
Introduction: In the year 2024-25, India recorded historic growth in its renewable energy sector, driven by advancements in solar, wind, bioenergy, and small hydro power. This growth not only highlights the sector’s progress but also underscores its significance in addressing global climate challenges and achieving a sustainable future.
Key Achievements:
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Solar Energy: Solar power contributed significantly to the year’s capacity expansion, with 23.83 GW installed during FY 2024-25, an increase of over 170% compared to the previous fiscal year. The total solar capacity now stands at 105.65 GW, including 81.01 GW from ground-mounted installations, 17.02 GW from rooftop solar, 2.87 GW from solar components of hybrid projects, and 4.74 GW from off-grid systems.
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Wind Energy: Wind energy saw steady progress, with 4.15 GW of new capacity added in FY 2024-25, up by over 85% compared to the previous year. The cumulative wind capacity now stands at 50.04 GW, reinforcing its role as a vital component in India’s renewable energy mix.
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Bioenergy and Small Hydro Power: These sectors continued to maintain momentum, with bioenergy installations reaching 11.58 GW (including off-grid and waste-to-energy projects) and small hydro power at 5.10 GW (with 0.44 GW under implementation). These initiatives helped maintain the decentralised and diverse nature of India’s energy landscape.
Expansion Pipeline: In addition to installed capacities, India has an expanding pipeline of clean energy projects. This includes emerging solutions such as hybrid systems, round-the-clock (RTC) power, peaking power, and thermal + RE bundling projects. These initiatives represent a strategic shift toward ensuring grid stability and reliable supply from renewable sources.
Target Achievements: Under the Government’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, India aims to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030. While this target remains challenging, the achievements in FY 2024-25 demonstrate India’s commitment to renewable energy and its ability to scale up initiatives across sectors.
Future Prospects: As the year wraps down, readers are encouraged to explore emerging opportunities for innovation and collaboration. Continued investments in solar, wind, bioenergy, and small hydro power will likely drive further growth in renewable energy capacity, setting a solid foundation for India’s future energy transition.
In conclusion, India’s renewable energy sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and creativity in FY 2024-25. From the significant growth in solar and wind technologies to the momentum contributed by bioenergy and small hydro power, these achievements reflect India’s progress toward achieving its climate goals and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.