India’s solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing capacity is set to rise to 125 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced on Saturday. Speaking at the inauguration of Waaree Energies Limited’s new 5.4 GW solar cell manufacturing facility in Degam, Gujarat, Joshi underscored the nation’s rapid growth in renewable energy manufacturing and self-reliance.
Major Growth in Domestic Solar Capacity
Joshi noted that the country’s current solar PV module capacity stands at 80 GW, while solar cell manufacturing has risen from zero in 2014 to 25 GW. He said the latter is expected to reach 40 GW soon. The minister attributed the progress to government schemes and initiatives that focus on integrated solar manufacturing — from polysilicon to finished modules — all within India.
“India is moving towards becoming self-reliant in solar technology,” he said, citing the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) and viability gap funding schemes as key drivers of growth under Central government programmes like PM Suryaghar Yojana and PM Kusum.
India’s Emergence as a Renewable Energy Leader
Reiterating India’s global positioning, Joshi said the country is now the third-largest producer of renewable energy worldwide, with an installed capacity of 220 GW. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reaching 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. “Ten years ago, India barely figured on the renewable energy map. Today, we are leading the charge,” he added.
Despite housing 17% of the global population, India’s share of global greenhouse gas emissions is under 4%, Joshi emphasized, adding that this has not slowed the country’s transition to clean energy. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for driving ambitious policies and projects that harness solar and wind power.
Policy Support and Global Ambitions
Joshi said India had launched the world’s largest bid for green ammonia and secured significant export orders for electrolyser and green hydrogen manufacturing. He further noted that the government’s objective is not only to reduce dependency on imports but to make India a global manufacturing hub for green energy technologies.
“Everything from polysilicon to methanol will be manufactured in India,” he said, anticipating a doubling of India’s energy demand by 2032.
Also read: CII-GBC Pushes for Green Spaces in Infra Projects
India’s electricity generation capacity has grown from 269 GW over 60 years to 459 GW in just the past decade, Joshi added.
Gujarat’s Role in India’s Green Push
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who was also present at the event, praised Modi’s vision for turning Gujarat into a policy-driven state and a national growth engine. “Ease of doing business and a pro-people policy environment have made Gujarat a preferred destination for industries,” he said.
Patel added that under the Atmanirbhar Gujarat scheme, 183 industrial units have already become operational with investments totaling ₹43,000 crore.
