India added about 37.9 GW of solar in CY2025, up nearly 55% from 24.5 GW in 2024, according to JMK Research
Utility-scale projects contributed around 28.6 GW, supported by the commissioning of long-pending projects and faster execution ahead of the ISTS waiver deadline
Rooftop solar grew 72% to 7.9 GW, while open access projects made up more than 38% of new utility-scale capacity as C&I demand increased
India’s combined solar cell and module manufacturing capacity crossed 200 GW by end-2025
India’s solar market set a new record in calendar year (CY) 2025, with total installations reaching nearly 37.9 GW, according to JMK Research & Analytics. This is a year-on-year (YoY) increase of about 54.7% over 24.5 GW, driven largely by strong growth in the utility-scale segment (see JMK Research: India’s 2024 Solar PV Capacity Expanded By 24.5 GW).
Utility-scale solar additions alone reached about 28.6 GW in CY2025, up around 54.6% compared to 2024. This segment accounted for the majority of new capacity added during the year.
JMK attributes the sharp rise in utility-scale installations to the commissioning of long-pending projects that had earlier been awarded by central and state agencies.
Another key factor was faster project execution triggered by the approaching deadline for the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) waiver. To secure these benefits, developers accelerated construction and grid connection timelines, notes JMK.
In addition, the open access segment emerged as an important growth driver. It contributed more than 38% of the total utility-scale solar capacity installed in India during CY2025, reflecting rising demand from commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers.
Rooftop solar added another 7.9 GW capacity last year with a 72% annual jump, with around 60% installed during H2 CY2025, thanks primarily to the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY). The remaining 1.35 GW was added in the off-grid/distributed solar segment. This represented a YoY decline of about 8.8%.
JMK also credits India’s expansion of domestic solar cell and module production capacity as supporting the country’s solar installations. It estimates the cumulative solar cell and module manufacturing capacity of the country to have crossed the 200 GW mark by December 2025.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) recently said that India added 81 GW of solar module production capacity in CY2025, reaching a combined 144 GW, while cell capacity grew to around 24 GW (see India Adds 81 GW Solar Module Manufacturing Capacity In 2025).
With these additions, solar now accounts for close to 53% of the total renewable energy capacity of India, which reached 258 GW at the end of December 2025. Wind follows next at 21%, large hydro at 20%, biopower at 4%, and small hydro at 2%. Wind energy additions of 6.3 GW in CY2025 improved by 85.3% annually.
Altogether, out of 44.2 GW of new solar and wind energy capacity installed in CY2025, Gujarat added close to 11.1 GW, followed by 10.2 GW in Rajasthan, and 9.7 GW in Maharashtra.
TaiyangNews is bringing together the Indian solar PV manufacturing industry for the Solar Technology Conference India 2026 (STC.I 2026). To be held on February 5 and 6 in Aerocity, New Delhi, this 2nd edition of the TaiyangNews physical conference will also have banks, investors, and policymakers in attendance. Register for the event here.