“India to become the renewable energy capital of the world would need to promote clean energy financing through proactive policy measures to attract more public and private investments. Strengthening of infrastructure in RE generation, transmission and distribution is equally important, along with research and development in renewable energies. The prosumers (including rooftop solar generators) should be incentivized to make RE generation and its export to grid attractive. India should strive to develop indigenous manufacturing capability in RE systems to become self-reliant. Lastly, collaboration between academia, industry, and government must be encouraged to drive innovation and growth in renewable energy.”
– Jayant Sinha, Sr. Principal Consultant (Energy & Utilities), EnTruist Power
“India is poised to become the Renewable Energy Capital of the World with a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 balancing affordability, availability, and sustainability. Key initiatives include solar parks, floating solar, wind energy corridors, and green hydrogen, supported by the International Solar Alliance and low-cost renewable tariffs. As per capita energy and water use rises, India must prioritize optimized consumption, focusing on local produce over resource-intensive processing and transport. Along with solar and wind potential sustainability of waste-to-methane, hydrogen, methanol and ethanol etc are poised to take off, leveraging which India forays to a carbon-neutral future.”
– Dr. Bibhu Prasad Rath, Additional General Manager, NTPC Ltd
“India has set a bold target to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030. This includes solar, wind, hydro, and biomass energy. In addition, India aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, positioning itself as a leader in global efforts to combat climate change. India is among the world’s largest producers of solar energy. The country has made substantial progress in expanding its solar energy capacity, especially through the development of large solar parks and rooftop installations. As of Nov 2024, India has installed over 94 GW of solar power capacity, which is 21% of the total installed capacity of 456 GW. India is also one of the top countries for wind energy production. With a coastline of over 7,500 km, the country has enormous potential for offshore wind energy. Currently, India has over 47.95 GW of installed wind energy capacity, and it is projected to reach 140 GW by 2030. India is rapidly becoming a global leader in renewable energy and is well on its way to becoming the renewable energy capital of the world.”
– Dr. Rajesh Arora, Senior Manager, DTL
“India’s clean energy story is like a powerful wave gaining momentum. We have already achieved an impressive milestone, over 200 GW of green power lighting up homes and businesses across the nation. But that’s just the beginning. With an ambitious target of reaching 500 GW by 2030, India is pushing boundaries. We are expecting investments to hit $32 billion by 2025, double what it is today. While we face hurdles like building better infrastructure and finding smarter ways to store energy, India’s determination to lead the global renewable revolution remains unwavering.”
– Karn Pallav, Mechanical Engineer, MBA (Power) graduate from NPTI Faridabad
“The country’s shift to renewable energy is both a strategic need and a moral duty to fight climate change. India has made progress in technologies like Solar Energy Storage, Wind-Solar Hybrids, and Smart Grids. The International Solar Alliance includes 120 countries under India’s initiative. The Union Government aims for 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and plans to create 50 solar parks with a total capacity of 38 GW by 2025-26. Key support includes the `24,000 crore Production-Linked Incentive scheme for solar manufacturing. India’s energy transformation is vital for achieving sustainable growth by 2047, despite challenges in Grid Integration, Energy Storage, and Financing, presenting chances for investment and job creation. As the country continues its path to becoming the renewable energy capital of the world, it is poised to reap the benefits of a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.”
– Prof. (Dr.) Sarat Kumar Sahoo, FIE, FIETE, SMIEEE, C. Engg, Parala Maharaja Engineering College
“India is poised to become a global renewable energy leader with its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The country is investing heavily in solar, wind, and hydrogen technologies, supported by initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission. India boasts one of the world’s largest solar parks and is enhancing energy storage capabilities. With abundant renewable resources and a favorable policy framework, India is well-positioned to lead the world in clean energy.”
– Eshwar Pisalkar, Head Charging Infrastructure, Blue Energy Motors
“Over the past decade, India has made remarkable strides in renewable energy. From just 20 GW of installed capacity in 2012, the country surpassed 125 GW by 2023 (MNRE, 2024). Solar energy has seen exponential growth, rising from 1 GW in 2012 to over 70 GW, while wind power expanded from 18 GW to 44 GW in the same period. India’s renewable energy share in electricity generation increased from 6% in 2012 to nearly 25% in 2023 (CEA, 2023). Initiatives like solar parks, UDAY for grid modernization, and international collaborations like the International Solar Alliance have fueled this growth. Moving forward, India’s $223 billion investment requirement (IEA, 2023) highlights the scale of commitment needed to achieve its 500 GW target by 2030.”
– Payal Saxena, Consultant Energy and Utilities
“India possesses immense renewable energy potential, driven by abundant solar and wind resources. The government has set ambitious targets for renewable energy capacity, aiming to significantly increase its share in the energy mix. The key factors driving India’s renewable energy growth include government supportive policies, subsidies, and dedicated renewable energy zones that are accelerating deployment. Then there are technological advancements which lead to falling costs of solar and wind technologies. Significant development in grid modernization, smart grid, and battery storage system. Additionally, growing private sector participation is fuelling rapid expansion of renewable energy projects. On successfully capitalizing on these strengths, India will not only meet its domestic energy needs but also emerge as a global leader in renewable energy technologies and solutions, significantly contributing to the fight against climate change.”
– Reshmi Goppi, Project Manager, L&T, Energy and Power Sector Professional
