+
India Hits 50% Non-Fossil Power Capacity Five Years Early
POWER & RENEWABLE ENERGY

India Hits 50% Non-Fossil Power Capacity Five Years Early

India has achieved 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources—five years ahead of the target set under its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement. As of 31 October 2025, non-fossil capacity stands at approximately 259 GW, with 31.2 GW added so far in the current financial year.

Between April 2023 and October 2025, Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy—SECI, NTPC, NHPC and SJVN—have issued Letters of Award (LoAs) totalling 67,554 MW. No LoAs have been cancelled. In addition to REIA-led tenders, states are issuing their own renewable procurement bids, and further capacity is being added through Green Energy Open Access and captive routes in the commercial and industrial sectors. Renewable capacity growth is therefore progressing through multiple channels.

With declining costs of solar-plus-storage and dispatchable renewable power, distribution companies and major consumers are increasingly favouring solutions that can supply energy during peak hours. This shift has reduced the demand for plain solar projects. Solar-plus-storage is now being preferred over wind–solar hybrids, due to its ability to provide firm, time-specific output. The Government has accordingly encouraged REIAs to move away from plain solar tenders and instead issue bids for solar with storage, renewable energy configured for peak-hour supply and firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE).

To ensure timely execution of power purchase agreements (PPAs), the Government has urged states to comply with the Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) under the Energy Conservation Act. REIAs have also been advised to aggregate demand from DISCOMs and bulk consumers before designing tenders. Regional workshops with major renewable-procuring states have been held to address operational bottlenecks and accelerate PPA signing.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) prepares long-term transmission plans based on renewable potential identified by MNRE, giving developers visibility on future network availability. Transmission systems are implemented in phases to match generation additions and optimise network utilisation.

For planning up to 2032, around 47.2 GW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) has been incorporated. BESS deployment enables peak shifting, reduces congestion and enhances transmission asset utilisation. Recent regulations—specifically the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2025 amendment on Connectivity and General Network Access—mandate granting grid connectivity for both solar and non-solar hours. This measure will improve transmission efficiency and allow additional renewable energy, including co-located BESS, to be integrated without requiring parallel expansion of transmission corridors.

This information was provided in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi.

India has achieved 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources—five years ahead of the target set under its Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement. As of 31 October 2025, non-fossil capacity stands at approximately 259 GW, with 31.2 GW added so far in the current financial year. Between April 2023 and October 2025, Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy—SECI, NTPC, NHPC and SJVN—have issued Letters of Award (LoAs) totalling 67,554 MW. No LoAs have been cancelled. In addition to REIA-led tenders, states are issuing their own renewable procurement bids, and further capacity is being added through Green Energy Open Access and captive routes in the commercial and industrial sectors. Renewable capacity growth is therefore progressing through multiple channels. With declining costs of solar-plus-storage and dispatchable renewable power, distribution companies and major consumers are increasingly favouring solutions that can supply energy during peak hours. This shift has reduced the demand for plain solar projects. Solar-plus-storage is now being preferred over wind–solar hybrids, due to its ability to provide firm, time-specific output. The Government has accordingly encouraged REIAs to move away from plain solar tenders and instead issue bids for solar with storage, renewable energy configured for peak-hour supply and firm and dispatchable renewable energy (FDRE). To ensure timely execution of power purchase agreements (PPAs), the Government has urged states to comply with the Renewable Consumption Obligation (RCO) under the Energy Conservation Act. REIAs have also been advised to aggregate demand from DISCOMs and bulk consumers before designing tenders. Regional workshops with major renewable-procuring states have been held to address operational bottlenecks and accelerate PPA signing. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) prepares long-term transmission plans based on renewable potential identified by MNRE, giving developers visibility on future network availability. Transmission systems are implemented in phases to match generation additions and optimise network utilisation. For planning up to 2032, around 47.2 GW of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) has been incorporated. BESS deployment enables peak shifting, reduces congestion and enhances transmission asset utilisation. Recent regulations—specifically the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission’s 2025 amendment on Connectivity and General Network Access—mandate granting grid connectivity for both solar and non-solar hours. This measure will improve transmission efficiency and allow additional renewable energy, including co-located BESS, to be integrated without requiring parallel expansion of transmission corridors. This information was provided in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

MMRDA Targets Completion of Projects by December 2028

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is targeting the completion of all its ongoing infrastructure projects by December 2028, a year ahead of its December 2029 deadline, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee has said.Speaking at the sixth edition of the Real Estate & Infrastructure Investors' Summit (REIIS) 2026 in Mumbai, Mukherjee said the authority was developing an integrated network of roads, tunnels, sea links and Metro corridors under its broader vision of “Mumbai in 59 Minutes”.The objective is to improve east-west and north-south connectivity an..

Next Story
Building Material

High-Performance Façades Gain Ground in Indian Buildings

High-performance façades are gaining greater importance in Indian architecture as developers and architects increasingly focus on energy efficiency, thermal comfort and building performance, according to Shankar Fenestrations & Glasses.The company said modern façade systems are increasingly being considered as part of a building's overall performance strategy rather than being used primarily as aesthetic elements.High-performance glass, curtain wall systems and structural glazing can contribute to thermal regulation, solar control, daylight management and indoor comfort. Their growing ad..

Next Story
Technology

SPML Infra's 104.4 kWh BESS Battery Pack Clears Global Tests

SPML Infra has announced that its proprietary 104.4 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) battery pack has completed key international safety, performance and transportation testing and certification requirements, marking a step towards its commercial deployment.Developed under the company's own intellectual property, the battery pack has completed requirements under UL9540A, IEC 62619, IEC 63056, IEC 60730, IEC 61000-6-2, IEC 61000-6-4 and UN38.3 standards.The testing covers areas including thermal runaway safety, battery performance, system functional safety, electromagnetic compatibility..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code