India to Add 142 GW of Renewable Energy; Gujarat Leads the Way.

India is witnessing a massive renewable energy (RE) expansion, with 142.7 GW of capacity under construction, according to the latest data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). Gujarat is leading the charge, accounting for 46,441 MW across solar, wind, and solar-wind hybrid projects, the highest among all states.

Currently, India has an installed RE capacity of 167.7 GW, which includes around 12 GW from non-wind and non-solar sources such as biomass and small hydro. The ongoing RE projects comprise 82,348 MW of solar, 25,532 MW of wind, and 35,787 MW of solar-wind hybrid capacity, highlighting the growing prominence of hybrid installations.

Rajasthan follows Gujarat with 36,746 MW under construction, and together, the two states account for 58.3% of the upcoming RE capacity. This concentration raises concerns about evacuation infrastructure, which will need to support the significant influx of renewable power.

In contrast, Tamil Nadu, despite being a major RE player, lags with only 1,262 MW under construction. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh are rapidly increasing their RE capacities. Uttar Pradesh, which currently has 6,182 MW of installed RE, is set to add 3,300 MW of solar capacity in 2025. Of this, 2,100 MW is scheduled for commissioning in May at Lalitpur (600 MW), Jhansi (600 MW), Chitrakoot (800 MW), and Mirzapur (100 MW), with another 1,200 MW plant in Jalaun expected to come online in August.

Madhya Pradesh is set to nearly double its current capacity of 10,366 MW by adding 9,161 MW, while Andhra Pradesh will expand its RE capacity by 6,449 MW from the current 11,623 MW.

A substantial portion of the 142 GW under construction is expected to be commissioned in 2025-26. Additionally, four central public sector enterprises under the Ministry of Power are contributing 11,289 MW to the pipeline, with NTPC leading at 5,417 MW, followed by SJVN (3,848 MW) and NHPC (1,790 MW).

India’s accelerating RE growth underscores the country’s commitment to clean energy, but the concentration of projects in select states signals the need for robust grid infrastructure to ensure smooth integration of the new capacity.

HBL