India’s renewable power capacity has crossed 300 GW in 2026, while clean-energy generation helped the country avoid more than $100 billion in coal and natural gas import costs between 2011 and 2025, according to a new International Energy Agency report.
New Delhi, November 3 — India’s renewable power capacity has crossed 300 GW in 2026, marking another major milestone in the country’s clean-energy expansion, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
India’s renewable capacity has almost quadrupled over the past decade, making it the world’s second-fastest-growing renewable energy market and the second-largest manufacturer of solar photovoltaic modules, according to the India Renewable Energy Market Report 2026.
The report, launched at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit, said India achieved its target of having 50% of installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
The renewable-energy push is also delivering major economic benefits.
Renewable electricity generation helped India avoid more than $100 billion in coal and natural gas import costs between 2011 and 2025. The IEA expects cumulative savings to more than double by 2030.
Without the solar, wind and bioenergy capacity added since 2010, India’s coal imports in 2025 would have been around 110 million tonnes higher, the agency estimated.
India’s renewable power capacity is expected to reach approximately 530 GW by 2030, with solar PV accounting for more than 80% of new capacity additions.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said India’s renewable expansion is delivering significant energy-security benefits at a time of increased uncertainty in global energy markets.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said India’s emergence as a renewable-energy giant reflects the progress made in recent years.
He said the next phase will require stronger domestic manufacturing, investment and transmission infrastructure as India’s electricity demand continues to rise.
India’s renewable expansion is also creating opportunities to strengthen domestic solar manufacturing and diversify global clean-energy supply chains.
The IEA said competitive auctions have helped India achieve some of the world’s lowest solar PV generation costs, while the country has also emerged as a leader in procuring hybrid renewable-energy projects.
However, further expansion faces several challenges.
The report identified inadequate grid infrastructure, limited energy storage, insufficient system flexibility, weak finances of electricity distribution companies and project execution delays as potential constraints.
Addressing these challenges could accelerate India’s renewable power deployment by more than 20% during 2026-2030, according to the IEA.
