Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi has said that India has achieved a total renewable energy capacity of 272 Gigawatts till date.

 

Replying to a Question during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Joshi said that, during Congress rule, the country’s renewable energy capacity was only 81 gigawatts. He informed that the solar energy capacity, which was merely 2.8 gigawatts earlier, has now increased significantly to 136 gigawatts. The Minister said India has emerged as the third-largest renewable energy producer in the world today.

 

Mr Joshi said, PM KUSUM scheme is benefiting people across the country, and several states are demanding an expansion of the scheme due to its success in rural areas. The scheme provides for the installation of solar pumps, solarisation of existing grid-connected agricultural pumps and installation of grid-connected renewable power plants.

 

On the green hydrogen transition, Mr Joshi said, India is not just participating but playing a leading role in shaping the global future in green hydrogen. The Minister said, as of November last year, 21 green hydrogen projects with a total capacity of eight thousand 300 tonnes per annum have been commissioned across the country.