3 weeks ago
India crosses 300 GW non-fossil capacity, adds 30.58 GW renewables
India just reached a big milestone in clean energy.
It can now make more than 300 gigawatts of electricity without burning fossil fuels like coal or gas.
Ten years ago, it could only make about 81 gigawatts that way.
In just six months, India added 30.58 gigawatts of renewable energy.
Most of that new power came from solar panels, with wind turbines adding a smaller share.
The government also lowered taxes on solar equipment so it costs less to build solar farms.
A rooftop-solar scheme called PM Surya Ghar has already helped more than 50 lakh families go solar.
Scientists at Indian universities are also working on better batteries and more efficient solar cells to make clean energy even more affordable.
India has crossed 300 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity, up from around 81 GW a decade ago, Minister Pralhad Joshi said.
The country added 30.58 GW of renewable capacity during January-June 2026, 25% more than in the same period last year.
Solar accounted for 26.34 GW and wind for over 4.2 GW of the new renewable capacity.
A GST cut on renewable-energy devices and components from 12% to 5% could lower utility-scale solar project costs by ₹20-25 lakh per MW.
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana rooftop solar scheme has crossed 50 lakh beneficiaries, and eight of 12 PLI-selected solar module makers have started production.
- Who
- Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi
- What
- India crossed 300 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity and added 30.58 GW of renewable capacity in six months
- Where
- India, at the 7th CII International Energy Conference and Exhibition
- When
- During January-June 2026, announced on Thursday
- Why
- The government seeks to lower project costs, expand domestic manufacturing, and address transmission and technology bottlenecks in renewable-energy growth
Key facts
- Non-fossil capacity
- Over 300 GW, up from about 81 GW a decade ago
- Renewables added (Jan-Jun 2026)
- 30.58 GW, up 25% year-on-year
- Solar / Wind additions
- 26.34 GW / over 4.2 GW
- GST on renewable devices
- Cut from 12% to 5%
- PM Surya Ghar beneficiaries
- Over 50 lakh
- Floating solar approved
- 5,070 MW under PM Surya Sarovar Yojana
- Small-hydro programme
- ₹2,584 crore for 1,500 MW
- R&D milestones
- MNRE-supported research at IIT Bombay achieved 30% silicon tandem cell efficiency; IIT Roorkee is developing sodium-ion batteries
Quotes
Union New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi
Minister of New and Renewable Energy, India
“"This achievement belongs to developers taking investment decisions, manufacturers expanding factories, financial institutions providing capital, and thousands of engineers and workers executing these projects on the ground."”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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