India hits 50% non-fossil electricity capacity, five years ahead of target

India has reached 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, five years before its 2030 target. Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi announced the milestone, calling it a major step in India’s clean energy leadership.

This shift reflects over a decade of policy and technological momentum. Key government schemes have accelerated progress. The PM-KUSUM scheme promotes solar for agricultural use, enabling farmers to generate income by selling surplus power. The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana supports rooftop solar for residential use. The National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy boosts land and grid efficiency by encouraging co-located projects.

Innovation in clean energy technology has also been critical. During a recent visit to the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research and Education (NCPRE) at IIT Bombay, Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi interacted with researchers and reviewed several advanced facilities. A major breakthrough was announced during the visit. IIT Bombay-incubated startup ART-PV India (Advanced Renewable Tandem-Photovoltaics India) has developed a 4-terminal Silicon/CdTe-Perovskite tandem solar cell with a record 29.8% conversion efficiency. This is one of the highest performance levels ever achieved in India for any solar technology.

The innovation was backed by over Rs 200 crore in funding from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The government has also committed $10 million to scale up commercial production of these high-efficiency cells, which could significantly reduce India’s reliance on imported photovoltaic technology.

Shri Joshi stated that India is not only adopting clean energy but shaping its future through innovation in perovskite solar cells, green hydrogen, and battery storage. These advances support the vision of an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” by enhancing domestic manufacturing capacity.

Looking ahead, India is preparing for the next phase of the energy transition by integrating artificial intelligence, digital twins, and smart grid tools. These technologies will improve system flexibility, empower consumer-producers (prosumers), and ensure secure grid operations in a decentralised energy market.