India's Renewables Push: Solar Power Reliance Cuts Coal Dependence In Last Three Years

Last Updated:March 25, 2026, 00:21 IST

Data shows that solar has increasingly substituted coal power during daytime hours, while wind energy continues to support power generation during the night and early morning

At a time when the world is facing a major energy crisis due to the conflict in West Asia, India’s growing reliance on renewable energy, particularly solar power, has significantly reduced its dependence on coal-based thermal generation in the last three years.

According to data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), solar energy has increasingly substituted coal-based power during daytime hours, while wind energy continues to support electricity generation during the night and early morning.

The CEA data shows that solar power generation has shown a steady rise during the period under review. India generated 102 billion units (BU) of solar energy in 2022-23, which increased to 116 BU in 2023-24 and further to 144 BU in 2024-25. This takes total solar generation over the past three years to 362 BU.

The data indicates that this surge in solar output has translated into substantial coal savings. Based on a normative coal requirement of 0.65 kg per unit of electricity generated, the coal needed for producing 362 BU would have been approximately 235 million tonnes (MT). As a result, the CEA estimates that nearly 235 MT coal has been saved in the last three years due to solar energy replacing thermal power generation.

India’s aggressive solar expansion has been a key pillar of the renewable energy push under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Flagship initiatives such as the National Solar Mission, large-scale solar parks, and the promotion of rooftop solar have driven capacity addition across the country.

India has also positioned itself as a global leader in clean energy through the International Solar Alliance, co-founded by New Delhi. The Centre has set an ambitious target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with solar expected to play a central role.

The figures underline the growing role of renewables in India’s energy mix and their impact in reducing fossil fuel dependence, even as demand for electricity continues to rise.

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