India to Install 42.5 GW of Solar Power in 2026

India is building a solar revolution one panel at a time, and 2026 is shaping up to be its brightest year yet.

The country plans to install 42.5 gigawatts of new solar capacity next year, enough clean energy to power roughly 42 million homes. That includes 32.5 GW of large utility-scale solar farms, 8.5 GW of rooftop panels, and 1.5 GW for off-grid communities without reliable electricity access.

The momentum is already building. In 2025, India added 37.8 GW of solar capacity, with utility-scale projects jumping 54.6% and rooftop installations soaring 72% compared to the year before.

As of December 2025, India's renewable energy portfolio reached impressive heights: 136 GW of solar, 55 GW of wind, and 51 GW of hydropower. Another 169 GW worth of clean energy projects are in the pipeline, scheduled to come online over the next four to five years.

Five major players are leading the charge. Adani tops the list with 40.4 GW of capacity installed or planned, followed by ReNew at 22.2 GW, NTPC at 19.6 GW, JSW Energy at 16.1 GW, and Greenko at 15.1 GW.

The scale of this transformation is hard to overstate. Every new solar farm and rooftop panel means cleaner air for Indian cities, lower electricity costs for families, and thousands of green jobs for workers building the infrastructure of tomorrow.

The Ripple Effect

India's solar surge sends ripples far beyond its borders. As the world's most populous nation embraces renewable energy, it proves that developing countries don't have to choose between economic growth and environmental responsibility.

The country's success is driving down solar technology costs globally, making clean energy more affordable for other nations. Indian companies are becoming world leaders in solar manufacturing, with firms like Waaree capturing 21% of the domestic market and expanding internationally.

For rural communities getting their first reliable electricity through off-grid solar, the impact is life-changing. Kids can study after dark, health clinics can refrigerate medicines, and small businesses can operate beyond daylight hours.

India's renewable energy journey shows what's possible when ambition meets action, lighting the way for a cleaner, brighter future for everyone.