Energy Transition Milestone: India Adds Record Non-Fossil Capacity in 2025

India has achieved a landmark in its clean-energy journey, with the government announcing the addition of 31.25 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel capacity in 2025 — the highest annual increase ever recorded. The figure includes solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, and other clean-energy sources, marking a decisive step toward India’s long-term energy transition and climate commitments.

What Was Announced?

Solar Leads the Surge in Clean Energy Expansion

According to official data released on 5 December, the bulk of the newly added capacity in 2025 came from solar power installations, reflecting India’s continued leadership in low-cost solar deployment. Utility-scale solar parks, rooftop solar uptake, and hybrid solar-wind projects jointly contributed to this expansion.

Wind energy additions also showed improvement compared to previous years, supported by repowering initiatives, faster clearances, and improved grid-integration capabilities. Hydropower and nuclear capacity saw incremental additions, aligning with the government’s diversified clean-energy strategy.

The milestone highlights India’s collective effort by public-sector enterprises, private developers, and state agencies in scaling up renewable-energy deployment at an accelerated pace.

Why This Matters

Strengthening Climate Commitments, Energy Security and Economic Growth

The record achievement reinforces India’s commitment to its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, including the target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030.

Beyond climate targets, the expansion plays a crucial role in:

• Enhancing energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and imported coal.
• Lowering power-generation costs as renewable tariffs remain among the lowest globally.
• Boosting green jobs, manufacturing, and investments in sectors such as solar modules, storage systems, and green hydrogen.
• Supporting economic growth, as cleaner energy strengthens industrial competitiveness and sustainability metrics.

The capacity addition also aligns with India’s pursuit of clean-tech leadership through initiatives like the Green Hydrogen Mission, Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for solar manufacturing, and faster augmentation of transmission corridors such as the Green Energy Corridor Phase II.

Looking Ahead

Policy Stability and Infrastructure Will Be Key

Experts note that sustaining this momentum will require policy stability, robust grid infrastructure, and scaling up storage technologies to manage renewable variability. The success of renewable expansion in 2025 serves as a strong foundation for India’s long-term decarbonisation pathway and its aspiration to lead global clean-energy transformation.