TERI Report Pegs India’s Solar Potential At 10.83 TW

A new study by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) estimates India’s total solar energy potential at 10,830 GW (10.83 TW), a significant increase over the government’s 2014 estimate of 748 GW. Unlike the earlier projection based on 3% of identified wastelands, TERI’s assessment incorporates untapped and emerging solar applications such as floating photovoltaics and agrivoltaics, among others. 

In the Reassessment of Solar Potential in India: A Macro-level Study, TERI finds the largest chunk of this potential capacity at 4.91 TW to come from ground-mounted solar PV on barren and unculturable land, and another 4.18 TW from agrivoltaics (agri-PV) for horticulture crops, coffee, and tea plantations. Rural rooftop solar can contribute 600 GW, urban rooftop PV 360 GW, and floating solar 100 GW.  

Its estimates for an additional 309 GW for building integrated PV (BIPV), 221 GW for urban PV (UPV), and 154 GW for rail and road solar PV were taken from GIZ India’s study with CSTEP, EY and Fraunhofer for the potential of New and Innovative Solar Areas. 

The study sees UPV’s use across all urban infrastructures, except for those covered under BIPV, such as parking lots, public areas, and the like.   

For ground-mounted solar and floating PV, this potential considers the norm for 3 acres/MW. 

“Use of agrivoltaics can help increase the farmer’s income by enhancing the production of fruits and vegetables. Land is a finite resource, so we need to look at other options to produce more energy as the demand for electricity will go up,” said TERI Director General Dr. Vibha Dhawan.  

The report writers estimate 100 GW of floating solar potential for the country by utilizing 2.5% of the surface area of water bodies such as inland reservoir/barrage, tank/pond, and aquaculture systems.

In terms of geographical distribution, Rajasthan holds the maximum theoretical potential for ground-mounted PV in barren and unculturable lands with 1.234 TW, followed by 731.3 GW in Madhya Pradesh, 606.7 GW in Maharashtra, and 592.6 GW in Gujarat, among others. 

“By 2060 we need around 5000 GW, and our climate is suitable for solar. There is no doubt that solar, being the leading source, will also be the dominating source in the grid. Therefore, potential assessment is important and necessary so that we can address the challenges in the sector,” stated the Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Dr. Mohammad Rihan, at the launch of the study that can be downloaded for free on TERI’s website.  

India targets to achieve around 280 GW of solar PV capacity by 2030. By February 2025, the country had already exceeded the 100 GW mark (see India Exceeds 100 GW Solar PV Capacity Milestone).