TERI’s latest macro-level study redefines India’s solar capacity, offering new insights into innovative solar applications and a roadmap for a cleaner, energy-secure future.
In a pivotal move for India’s clean energy transition, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has released a comprehensive report titled “Reassessment of Solar Potential in India: A Macro-level Study”, estimating India’s solar potential at an unprecedented 10,830 gigawatts (GW). This far exceeds previous government estimates and opens new avenues for both traditional and innovative solar technologies.
The report arrives at a time when India is ramping up its climate commitments under its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and pursuing a net-zero emissions target by 2070. The study provides detailed estimates across multiple categories, including:
- 4,909 GW from ground-mounted PV on barren and unculturable land,
- 960 GW from urban and rural rooftop solar,
- 100 GW from floating solar PV,
- 4,177 GW from Agri-PV systems on horticulture and plantation land,
- 154 GW from solar installations along rail and road infrastructure,
- 309 GW from building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and
- 221 GW from other urban-integrated solar applications.
These projections significantly expand the understanding of India’s renewable energy capabilities, surpassing the 748 GW solar potential previously estimated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2014, which focused solely on 3% of wastelands.
“India’s energy landscape is undergoing a transformative shift. Solar is not only clean but now the most cost-effective form of energy,” said Mr. Ajay Shankar, Distinguished Fellow at TERI, during the report launch. He emphasized the urgency to move beyond fossil fuel dependency and debunk myths surrounding the scalability of solar.
Dr. Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, highlighted India’s geographic advantage of abundant sunlight and called for wider adoption of agrivoltaics to boost farmer incomes while maximizing land use. “With rising electricity demand, we must adopt alternate solar solutions to generate more power with less land,” she added.
Dr. Mohammad Rihan, Director General of the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), stressed the need to align solar growth with long-term energy demand projections. “India may require up to 5000 GW of solar capacity by 2060. A reassessment like this helps identify the challenges and opportunities to meet that need,” he noted.
Authored by Ms. Hemakshi Malik and Mr. Robin Mazumdar from TERI, the study integrates data from collaborative research by GIZ India, CSTEP, EY, and Fraunhofer to present a realistic and actionable framework for scaling solar.
India’s updated NDCs call for a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 and 50% of total power capacity from non-fossil sources, making this reassessment a timely resource for achieving those goals.
The report is expected to be a key enabler for policymakers, industry stakeholders, urban planners, and civil society in advancing a just and inclusive energy transition. It also reinforces India’s role as a global leader in renewable energy innovation.
Download the full report here