India’s Renewable Energy Landscape Overview

India's renewable energy sector has expanded significantly, with total installed power capacity reaching approximately 560 GW in October 2026, up from 249 GW in 2014. Non-fossil fuel capacity stands at 308 GW as of 31 July 2026, accounting for 55% of total installed capacity, positioning India as the third-ranked country globally in renewable energy installed capacity. The sector attracted USD 63.7 billion in investments during the period July 2024–June 2026.

Sector-Specific Capacity and Developments

Solar power constitutes the largest component of India's renewable energy mix, with installed capacity reaching ~175 GW as of 31 October 2026, a substantial increase from 2.8 GW in 2014. India became the world's second-largest solar growth market in 2025, adding over 37 GW of capacity compared to 34 GW by the United States. The PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024 with a total outlay of ₹75,021 crore targeting 1 crore households, has seen 65.26 lakh households benefit from rooftop solar installations as of 2 November 2026. The scheme has transferred approximately ₹35,800 crore in subsidies to beneficiaries, commissioned 19.1 GW of rooftop solar capacity, and resulted in nearly 21 lakh households receiving zero electricity bills by October 2026.

Wind energy capacity reached 59.20 GW as of 29 October 2026, with India ranking fourth globally in installed wind power capacity. The sector achieved its highest-ever annual addition of 6.05 GW in FY 2025–26, representing a 46% increase over FY 2024–25. Approximately 28 GW of additional wind capacity is under implementation, while domestic manufacturing capacity has expanded to about 24 GW as of March 2026 (up from 10 GW in 2014), achieving 70–80% indigenization across key components. The Union Cabinet approved a ₹7,453 crore VGF scheme on 19 June 2024 for 1 GW of offshore wind projects.

Bio-energy capacity stands at 11.75 GW as of 29 October 2026, with specific breakdowns including 9,821.32 MW of bagasse-based cogeneration and 1,047.85 MW of non-bagasse capacity as of 30 September 2026. Waste-to-energy capacity reached 324.24 MW grid-connected and 554.16 MW off-grid as of 30 September 2026. The Compressed Biogas (CBG) ecosystem has expanded with 839 plants registered as of 2 November 2026, of which 210 are commissioned and 255 are under construction. The GOBARdhan scheme was approved on 6 August 2026 with an outlay of ₹23,731 crore for FY 2026–27 to FY 2035–36, aiming to nearly ten-fold domestic CBG production.

Hydropower capacity totals 57.49 GW as of 29 October 2026. The Small Hydro Power Development Scheme was approved in March 2026 with an outlay of ₹2,584.60 crore for FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31, targeting 1,500 MW of additional capacity particularly in hilly and North-Eastern regions.

Emerging Technologies and Initiatives

Green hydrogen development is progressing under the National Green Hydrogen Mission launched in January 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore, targeting 5 MMT production by 2030. Indian companies have signed 5.5 lakh MTPA of green hydrogen offtake commitments since 2023, with over 70% earmarked for exports. Eighteen new offtake agreements were signed in 2026 covering over 4 lakh MTPA equivalent. Projects are expected to attract investments of approximately ₹90,000 crore (US$9.5 billion), with 8,000 tonnes per annum production capacity commissioned by February 2026. Transport initiatives include 12 pilot projects launched in July 2026 for 70 hydrogen-powered vehicles and India's first indigenous hydrogen fuel cell-powered train beginning operations on the Jind–Sonipat section in July 2026.

Geothermal energy development is guided by the National Policy on Geothermal Energy notified on 15 September 2025. India's geothermal potential is estimated at around 10,600 MW across 381 hot springs, with 42 manifestations identified as promising areas. Five projects were sanctioned during July–August 2025, including a pilot production plant and solar-geothermal hybrid plant.

International Collaboration and Events

The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo (BRESE) 2026 was held from 2–5 November in New Delhi, featuring participation from Australia, Denmark, European Union, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and United Kingdom as country partners. Thirteen Indian States and Union Territories showcased renewable energy potential and investment opportunities, with an exhibition featuring 400+ manufacturers, technology providers, startups, and research institutions.