Rajasthan, Gujarat lead renewable surge; South slows

CHENNAI: India's renewable energy capacity has expanded sharply over the past five years, with several states accelerating installations to meet rising clean energy targets. Data from FY22 to FY26 highlights a strong ramp-up led by western states, while some early leaders in the south are now showing signs of moderation.

Rajasthan and Gujarat continue to dominate India's renewable landscape (excluding large hydro), accounting for the largest absolute capacity additions over the past five years.

Rajasthan now leads the country with 46.6 GW of installed renewable capacity in FY26, up from 17 GW in FY22—an addition of nearly 30 GW, largely driven by solar. Its solar capacity surged from 12.6 GW to over 41 GW, reinforcing its position as India's solar powerhouse. The state has maintained a strong and steady upward trajectory.

Gujarat follows closely, with total renewable capacity rising from 16.6 GW to 45.2 GW. Its solar capacity more than tripled from 7.2 GW to 29.3 GW, with strong acceleration in the past two years supported by large solar parks and policy backing. In wind, Gujarat overtook longtime leader Tamil Nadu, with capacity increasing from 9.2 GW in FY22 to 15.6 GW in FY26.

Maharashtra has also made notable progress, nearly tripling its capacity from 10.6 GW to 28.9 GW. Growth accelerated after FY24. Solar capacity rose nearly sevenfold, from 2.6 GW to 19.6 GW, marking one of the fastest expansions in the country and signalling its emergence as a major solar hub.

States such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which were early leaders in renewable adoption, are now witnessing slower incremental growth. Tamil Nadu grew from 16.1 GW to 26.9 GW, with steady annual additions. Solar capacity rose from 5.1 GW to 13.6 GW, while wind capacity increased from 9.9 GW to 12.1 GW.

Karnataka shows a similar pattern, with installed capacity growing from 15.9 GW in FY22 to 23 GW in FY26, adding just over 7 GW during the period. Once a solar leader, the state has also seen growth taper, with capacity rising from 7.6 GW in FY22 to 11 GW in FY26.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh is emerging as a key player, with renewable capacity rising from 5.5 GW in FY22 to 10 GW in FY26. Growth has been driven by solar, where capacity more than doubled from 2.7 GW to 6 GW. Additions were steady, with the strongest momentum between FY23 and FY25, though the pace eased slightly in FY26.


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