India is making big steps in using clean energy to power homes, schools, and businesses. In 2025, the country’s renewable power output grew faster than it has since 2022. This means more electricity is coming from sources like the sun and wind instead of coal.
Want to know more about how India is growing its renewable energy, why coal use is dropping, and what the country plans to do by 2030? You’re in the right place.
A Big Jump in Renewable Energy
In the first half of 2025, India’s renewable power output, which includes energy from the sun, wind, and other clean sources, grew by 24.4%. This added up to 134.43 billion kilowatt hours of electricity from January to June, according to government data.
It is a huge increase compared to past years and shows that India is working hard to use more clean energy. In June 2025, renewable energy, not including hydropower, made up more than 17% of all electricity produced in India.
It is the highest share ever recorded for these sources. Solar and wind power are leading this growth, with new solar panels and wind turbines being built across the country. This helps India rely less on fuels that harm the environment.
For long, coal has been India’s main source of electricity for a long time, but its use fell by nearly 3% in the first half of 2025. This happened because overall electricity growth slowed to 1.5%, compared to 5.8% in 2024.
A milder summer, caused by an early monsoon, meant people used less electricity for cooling. This led to less need for coal, and India, the world’s second-largest coal consumer after China, had extra coal stored up.
The extra coal meant fewer imports and more coal left in storage. It is good news for the environment because burning coal creates pollution. By using more renewable energy, India is reducing the harm caused by coal power plants. This shift is helping the country move toward a cleaner future.
Adding More Renewable Energy
India is adding more renewable energy sources every year. In 2025, the country is expected to add 32 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity, up from 28 gigawatts in 2024. A gigawatt is a unit of power that can light up millions of homes. From January to May 2025, India already added 16.3 gigawatts of wind and solar power, showing strong progress.
This growth comes after a slowdown that caused India to miss its 2022 goal of 175 gigawatts of renewable energy. Now, the country is catching up by building more solar and wind projects.
For example, large solar parks like Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan, which has a capacity of 2.2 gigawatts, are helping India produce more clean energy. These efforts are making renewable energy a bigger part of India’s electricity mix.
India itself has a bold plan to reach 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel energy by 2030. This includes power from solar, wind, hydropower, and nuclear sources.
Right now, India has about 235.6 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel capacity, so it needs to nearly double this amount in just a few years. This goal was set as part of India’s promises under the Paris Agreement, a global plan to fight climate change.
Experts believe this target is possible but might take until 2032 to achieve. To make it happen, India needs to improve its electricity grid and invest in energy storage, like batteries, to save power for when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. These improvements will help renewable energy work better and provide steady power to homes and businesses.
Challenges in Growing Renewable Energy
Building more renewable energy comes with some problems. One issue is that solar and wind power depend on the weather. If it’s cloudy or not windy, less electricity is produced. To fix this, India is working on battery storage to save extra power.
Another challenge is building enough power lines to carry electricity from solar and wind farms to cities. Right now, some projects are delayed because there aren’t enough power lines.
Another problem is signing agreements to sell the power. Over 40 gigawatts of renewable projects are waiting for these agreements, which slows down progress. India also needs a lot of money, about 200 billion dollars, to meet its 2030 goal.
The government is helping by offering tax breaks and other support to encourage companies to build renewable energy projects.
Nevertheless, India is now the fifth-largest producer of solar power and the fourth-largest producer of wind power in the world. By October 2024, the country had 92.12 gigawatts of solar energy and 47.95 gigawatts of wind energy.
Solar power has grown 30 times since 2014, thanks to lower costs and sunny weather in places like Rajasthan and Gujarat. Wind power is also growing, especially in states like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The government has started programs like the National Solar Mission to make solar power cheaper and easier to use. For example, in 2020, a solar project in Gujarat set a record for a low price of about 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour, cheaper than coal. These low prices make renewable energy a smart choice for India’s growing energy needs.
Why This Matters for India
India’s push for renewable energy is important for many reasons. First, it helps reduce pollution from coal, which makes the air cleaner and healthier. Second, it cuts down on the need to buy coal and oil from other countries, saving money.
Additionally, it creates jobs in building and running solar and wind farms. By 2030, renewable energy could provide 44% of India’s electricity, up from 18% now, according to government estimates.
Renewable energy also helps India fight climate change. At the COP26 climate meeting in 2021, India promised to cut carbon emissions by one billion tons by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2070.
Using more clean energy is a big part of keeping these promises. It also helps India meet its growing energy needs as more people move to cities and use more electricity.
Looking Ahead
India’s renewable energy growth in 2025 is a big step toward a cleaner future. By adding more solar and wind power, the country is reducing its use of coal and helping the environment.
The goal of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 is ambitious, but India is on the right path. With more investment, better power lines, and new technology like battery storage, India can keep growing its clean energy and set an example for the world.
The challenges, like building enough power lines and signing agreements, are real, but India’s progress shows it can overcome them.
By supporting solar, wind, and other clean energy sources, India is building a future where everyone has access to reliable, affordable, and eco-friendly electricity. This will help the country grow strong while protecting the planet for future generations.
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