India installed a record 25 GW of new renewable energy capacity in FY 2024-25, says MNRE
Solar PV drove new installations among renewables with 21 GW deployments
Flagship distributed generation schemes PMSGMBY and PM KUSUM are credited with increasing solar adoption
India installed 25 GW of new renewable energy capacity in FY 2024-25, a record for the country as it represents nearly 35% of annual increase over previous year’s 18.57 GW, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
This growth during the period from April 2024 to March 2025 was led by the solar power sector that expanded from 15 GW in FY 2023-24 to nearly 21 GW. It was an year-on-year (YoY) growth of 38%, as per the ministry’s provisional figures for the reporting period.
On cumulative basis, India has already exceeded 100 GW milestone in February 2025 with the addition of 24.5 GW AC solar capacity addition in calendar year 2024. By 2030, the target is to achieve 280 GW of solar out of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity (see India Exceeds 100 GW Solar PV Capacity Milestone).
“India may have already become or will soon become the third-largest renewable energy capacity holder in the world. This milestone is a testament to Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a sustainable and self-reliant energy future,” said Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi.
One of the key factors contributing to the proliferation of solar in the country is the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGMBY), Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s flagship rooftop solar scheme through which the country targets to achieve 30 GW PV capacity (see India Eyeing 30 GW Rooftop Solar Capacity With New Scheme).
The ministry counts it to have benefitted more than 1.1 million households by March 31, 2025. A total of INR 54.37 billion ($652.4 million) has been disbursed as central financial assistance (CFA) under the scheme to boost its adoption.
Another flagship solar scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM), is also driving the adoption of solar in the country, according to the ministry. The total number of solar pumps installed/solarized under this scheme now exceed 1 million. This is another scheme with over 30 GW solar target to promote solar adoption among the farmers in India (see MNRE Revises Solar Target Under PM-KUSUM Scheme).
India also managed to almost double its solar module manufacturing capacity from 38 GW in March 2024 to 74 GW in March 2025. The country’s solar cell production capacity has expanded from 9 GW to 25 GW over the same period. During FY 2024-25, India also saw the country’s 1st ingot-wafer manufacturing facility of 2 GW come online, added the ministry.
Nevertheless, India is likely to remain dependent on imports for its cell requirements despite integration factor likely improving to 65% by FY27, according to a recent SBI Caps report (see SBI Caps Forecasts Up To 90 GW New Solar Additions For India By FY2027).
To understand the Indian solar PV manufacturing landscape, TaiyangNews is bringing together technologists, scientists and leading solar PV manufacturers for a 2-day Solar Technology Conference India 2025 on April 10-11, 2025 in New Delhi. Registrations for the conference are open here.
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