India has achieved a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey, surpassing Japan to become the world’s third-largest solar power generator in 2023, driven by rapid solar energy deployment.
A recent report by global energy think tank Ember underscores India’s remarkable ascent in the solar power landscape, highlighting the nation’s substantial contribution to global renewable energy generation. According to Ember’s “Global Electricity Review,” India’s remarkable progress is evident in its climb from ninth position in solar energy deployment in 2015 to securing the third spot globally in 2023. Solar power played a pivotal role in India’s electricity mix, accounting for 5.8 percent of total electricity generation last year, marking a substantial increase from 0.5 percent in 2015. Solar energy maintained its status as the world’s fastest-growing electricity source for the 19th consecutive year, outpacing coal in terms of new electricity additions globally in 2023. India witnessed the world’s fourth-largest increase in solar generation, adding 18 terawatt-hours (TWh) to its solar capacity, trailing behind China, the United States, and Brazil. The analysis further reveals the exponential growth of global solar generation, which expanded more than sixfold from 2015 to 2023, underscoring the pivotal role of solar energy in the transition towards cleaner and sustainable power sources worldwide.
India’s ambitious targets align with the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) “Net Zero Emissions” scenario, aiming for solar energy to contribute 22 percent of global electricity generation by 2030. As electricity generation constitutes a significant portion of India’s annual carbon dioxide emissions, accelerating the transition to cleaner energy sources becomes imperative to meet both developmental and climate objectives. In line with its commitment to combat climate change, India has pledged to achieve 50 percent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. The country’s proactive stance towards renewable energy expansion positions it among the few nations aiming to triple renewable capacity by the end of the decade. Amid global efforts to ramp up renewable energy deployment, India’s role as a frontrunner underscores the importance of scaling up annual capacity additions to meet ambitious targets. As world leaders convene to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, India’s commitment and actions in accelerating the transition to clean energy sources remain pivotal in achieving collective climate goals.
