India’s Clean Energy Transition: Achieving 50% of Electricity Capacity from Non-Fossil Fuels

• India has reached 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, but the share of clean energy in electricity supplied is below 30%.

• In 2014, renewable energy sources constituted about 30% of India’s installed electricity capacity.

• As of June 30, 2025, the share of electricity generated from these sources rose from 17% in 2014-15 to 28% in the May 2025-26 period.

• The slower increase in utilising clean energy is due to the lower “capacity utilisation factor” (CUF), a measure of how much available energy is usable.

• Solar energy utilisation and easing demand on coal during the daytime, particularly in summer, couldn’t be seen in the evening.

• To improve solar utilisation, flexibility in the grid and improved battery storage are needed.

• An increase in ‘hybrid’ power projects that combine solar, wind, hydro and storage elements is the way forward.