India Becomes 3rd-Largest Wind and Solar Power Generator

In 2024, India overtook Germany to become the third-largest producer of electricity from wind and solar energy, according to Ember’s Global Electricity Review.

Key Findings from Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2025

Global Trends in Electricity Generation

• Wind and solar together generated 15% of global electricity in 2024.
• Low-carbon sources (renewables plus nuclear) provided 40.9% of global electricity, crossing the 40% mark for the first time since the 1940s.
• Solar remained the largest source of new electricity for the third consecutive year, adding 474 TWh in 2024.
• Solar has been the fastest-growing power source globally for the 20th year in a row.
  • In just three years, the share of solar in the global electricity mix doubled to 6.9%.

India’s Performance

• India’s wind and solar generation accounted for 10% of the country’s total electricity output in 2024.
• Clean energy sources in India (including hydro) contributed 22% of total electricity, with hydropower alone providing 8%.
• India’s solar power contribution doubled since 2021, reaching 7% of the country’s electricity generation.
• India added 24 GW of solar capacity in 2024, more than twice the addition in 2023.
• India became the third-largest solar market after China and the US.
• India recorded the fourth-largest increase in solar generation globally, adding 20 TWh.

India’s Climate Commitments and National Goals

• Climate Targets (NDCs): Under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC in 2022, India committed to achieving 50% of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
• Renewable Energy Capacity Target: India announced a goal in 2021 to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
  • Although this target was not formally included in the updated NDCs, it remains a key reference point in national planning documents such as the 14th National Electricity Plan.

key solar power initiatives of Indian Government

• National Solar Mission (updated target 2022): Set a goal of achieving 100 GW of solar energy capacity.
• Solar Parks Scheme: Facilitates the development of large-scale solar parks with a target capacity of 40 GW.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Solar PV (2021) : Supports domestic manufacturing of high-efficiency solar modules.
• Rooftop Solar Programme Phase II: Promotes solar installations on residential rooftops with subsidy support.
• PM-KUSUM Scheme (2019): Aims to install solar pumps and grid-connected solar power plants for farmers.