In a major clean energy milestone, India has reached its Panchamrit target of installing 50 per cent of its total power capacity from non-fossil sources, five years ahead of the 2030 deadline. A Standing Committee on Energy, which was tabled in the Lok Sabha today, lauded the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the Ministry of Power (MoP), and other stakeholders for propelling the country to this achievement for marking a strong stride toward its long-term climate commitments.
According to data submitted by the MNRE, as of 30 June 2025, India’s total installed power capacity stood at 485 GW, of which 243 GW, or roughly 50 per cent, originated from non-fossil energy sources. The Committee noted that the country has already installed 116 GW of solar capacity, with an ambitious target of 292 GW to be reached by 2030.
It noted that India needs to add around 176 GW of new solar installations over the next five years to meet the broader goal of 500 GW of non-fossil power capacity. The Ministry informed that 128 GW of solar capacity is currently under implementation, while an additional 62 GW is in the tendering phase.
However, the Committee flagged several challenges that could impede progress. These include delays in land acquisition, bottlenecks in connectivity approvals, inadequate storage infrastructure, and the need to strengthen domestic manufacturing.
Emphasising the urgency of addressing these barriers, the Committee urged the MNRE and all relevant stakeholders to diligently follow the planned roadmap” to ensure that the momentum in solar and other renewable energy projects is not lost.
The Lok Sabha Committee has also noted that Land acquisition has emerged as one of the most significant challenges slowing down the development of utility-scale solar projects across India. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) informed the Committee that large solar installations typically require 4 to 7 acres of land per megawatt.
To fully realise India’s long-term solar potential, the country would need an estimated 1.4 to 2 million hectares of land. The Committee warned that it could overlap with agriculturally productive or ecologically sensitive areas, creating competition with food security.
