Clean energy capacity surpasses fossil fuels in India for first time

Clean energy sources now account for 331.7 GW of India's installed power capacity, overtaking fossil fuels at 302 GW for the first time, according to data from Ember and Global Energy Monitor (GEM) reported by The Hindu Business Line and The Economic Times. This milestone reflects a shift in where capital flows, though coal still generates about 70 per cent of electricity and remains the grid's backbone.

Solar power has driven the change. India had only 0.07 GW of solar capacity in 2010, today it stands at 211 GW, nearly matching the coal fleet of 254.4 GW. Between 2025 and mid-2026, the country added 75.5 GW of solar capacity versus 3.8 GW of coal. Coal's share of installed capacity fell from 59 per cent in 2014 to 40 per cent in 2026, while clean capacity grew by nearly 80 GW in the period.

The next challenge, the outlets note, is converting capacity into actual generation. This requires investment in grid infrastructure, transmission links, and storage systems to balance the intermittent supply from solar and wind.