India achieves record renewable energy growth, Odisha set for major rooftop solar expansion

India has recorded its highest-ever addition of non-fossil energy capacity in the current financial year, totaling 31.25 GW, including 24.28 GW of solar power, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced at the Global Energy Leaders' Summit 2025 in Puri, Odisha.

Highlighting India’s pivotal role in the global renewable energy surge, Joshi noted that after taking nearly 70 years to reach 1 TW of renewable energy capacity in 2022, the world achieved 2 TW by 2024 adding the second terawatt in just two years. India has been a key contributor to this growth, with solar capacity rising from 2.8 GW in 2014 to around 130 GW, a jump of over 4,500%. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, India added 46 GW to global solar capacity, making it the third-largest contributor worldwide.

The Minister emphasized that despite holding the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves and being the second-largest coal consumer, India is steadily balancing coal use with renewable energy, reflecting a strategic shift as global industrial competitiveness increasingly favors clean energy.

Joshi announced a major initiative for Odisha: the approval of a consumer-owned Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model under PM Surya Ghar, aimed at installing 1.5 lakh rooftop solar systems of 1 kW each, benefiting approximately 7-8 lakh people, particularly from economically weaker households.

Odisha has already made significant progress in clean energy adoption, with over 3.1 GW of installed renewable capacity, accounting for more than 34% of the State’s total power capacity. Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, 1.6 lakh households have applied for rooftop solar systems, over 23,000 installations have been completed, and more than 19,200 families have received subsidies exceeding Rs 147 crore directly into their bank accounts.

Joshi credited India’s renewable energy success to the ecosystem fostered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing ease of doing business, investor confidence, infrastructure, demand-driven schemes, and strong Centre-State cooperation as key factors driving expansion.

Praising Odisha’s leadership, he expressed confidence in the State’s clean energy future, lauding Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, and the people of Odisha for their commitment to renewable energy and green technology.