Punjab has more than tripled its renewable energy capacity over the past decade, growing from 660.44 MW in 2014-15 to 2,174.12 MW in 2024-25, Union Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The growth has been steady year on year, with capacity rising to 895.08 MW in 2015-16, 1,286.36 MW in 2016-17, and 1,420.68 MW in 2017-18. It continued with 1,426.08 MW in 2018-19, 1,470.56 MW in 2019-20, 1,647.50 MW in 2020-21, 1,767.82 MW in 2021-22, 1,865.63 MW in 2022-23, and 2,067.62 MW in 2023-24 before reaching the present level.

This aligns with national progress, as renewable sources now contribute over 49 per cent of India’s total power generation capacity in 2024-25, marking a significant shift towards sustainable energy.

Punjab has also expanded its large hydroelectric capacity, increasing from 3,090 MW in 2014-15 to 3,827 MW in 2024-25. The growth saw capacity reach 3,145 MW in 2015-16, hold steady at 3,782 MW in 2016-17 and 2017-18, rise to 3,809 MW in 2018-19 and 2020-21, and 3,819 MW in 2019-20, before stabilising at 3,818 MW in 2021-22 and 2022-23, and reaching 3,827 MW in the last two years.

Naik’s statement came in response to questions from Rajya Sabha member Sandosh Kumar P, who sought state-wise renewable energy plant data since 2015, national generation statistics, and total renewable power generation over the past three years.