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Centre releases Solar PV Potential Assessment Report

Union Minister of New & Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi has released the updated Solar PV Potential Assessment Report and the launch of the first Training Programme on Solar Cell and Module Manufacturing at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gurugram under the aegis of Seva Parv, according to an official release.

According to the released updated report, India possesses one of the world’s richest solar resources, with average irradiance ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day (kWh/m²/day) across much of the country. Recognizing this opportunity, National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) (an autonomous institute of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has undertaken an updated, scientific, and spatially resolved assessment of India’s ground-mounted solar PV potential.

The report shows that apart from well-known desert regions in Rajasthan and Gujarat a large number of states have very high potential for ground mounted solar PV.

The potential is very well spread all over the country. Apart from the well-known regions of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat due to availability of vast wastelands, and high irradiance, a large number of other states also show significant capacity owing to favorable solar geometry and land-use efficiency.

This assessment provides a policy-linked, investment-ready framework to guide project siting, infrastructure development, and private sector participation. The results are directly aligned with India’s Panchamrit commitments announced at COP26 and support the nation’s long-term goals of energy independence by 2047 and net-zero emissions by 2070.

The new report builds on the earlier 2014 estimate of 749 Giga Watt peak (GWp) and incorporates cutting-edge methodologies, including high-resolution GIS, satellite-derived datasets, and refined land-use models.

The minister highlighted that India has already crossed 250 GW of non-fossil installed electricity capacity and achieved the NDC target of 50 percent non-fossil share in installed capacity, five years ahead of the 2030 deadline. He noted that India has created a strong domestic manufacturing base with over 100 GW of solar PV module capacity and more than 20 GW of wind turbine manufacturing capacity annually, showcasing the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.