India Climbs to Third Position in Global Renewable Energy Rankings
India has secured the third position globally in renewable energy installed capacity, surpassing Brazil in the international rankings, according to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. The announcement was made during a press conference where the Minister for New and Renewable Energy revealed significant milestones in the country's green energy transition.
Record-Breaking Capacity Addition in 2025-26
India achieved a remarkable addition of 55.3 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil power capacity during the 2025-26 period, marking the highest annual increase in the country's history. This substantial growth has elevated India's total renewable energy capacity to an impressive 283.5 GW, demonstrating accelerated progress in the clean energy sector.
"This is the highest increase in any year," emphasized Minister Joshi, highlighting the unprecedented scale of renewable energy expansion achieved during the specified timeframe.
Distributed Renewable Energy Emerges as Key Growth Driver
Distributed renewable energy systems have emerged as a significant component of India's green energy growth. The sector witnessed substantial contributions from rooftop solar installations and solar pumps designed for agricultural irrigation purposes.
- The PM KUSUM scheme contributed 7.6 GW of capacity through solar pump installations
- Rooftop solar plants added 8.7 GW to the national grid
Renewable Energy Dominates Electricity Generation
India reached a historic milestone in July 2025 when renewable sources achieved their highest-ever share in electricity generation. During this period, green energy sources including solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear power collectively met 51.5% of the total electricity demand, which stood at 203 GW.
Minister Joshi noted that government initiatives have proven particularly valuable in the current global context, where fossil fuel supplies face disruptions due to conflicts in West Asia. These measures have effectively reduced India's dependence on oil imports while strengthening energy security.
Comprehensive Energy Transition Initiatives
The government has implemented multiple strategies to accelerate the clean energy transition across various sectors:
- Nearly 100% electrification of railways has been achieved, reducing diesel dependency in transportation
- Electric vehicle sales have shown significant growth, supported by favorable charging infrastructure
- Daytime charging costs remain exceptionally low, encouraging EV adoption
- Household utilization of solar energy combined with battery storage systems is increasing steadily
Joshi revealed ongoing discussions with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) regarding the production of specialized utensils compatible with induction stoves. This initiative aims to promote wider adoption of electric cooking solutions, further reducing reliance on traditional cooking fuels.
Addressing Grid Integration Challenges
The minister acknowledged occasional instances where grid operators curtailed output from wind and solar farms, preventing these renewable sources from operating at full capacity. He attributed this challenge to historical infrastructure development patterns.
"Our transmission system has largely been developed for thermal-based energy and is taking time to adjust," Joshi explained, referring to the grid's traditional design for conventional power sources.
To resolve this issue, authorities are expediting work on delayed transmission lines, with completion expected by June. Once these infrastructure improvements are finalized, the problem of renewable energy curtailment is anticipated to be eliminated, allowing green power sources to contribute their maximum potential to the national grid.
