India Surpasses Brazil to Become World’s 3rd Largest Renewable Energy Market

In a historic milestone for the global energy transition, India has officially overtaken Brazil to secure the third position worldwide in total Renewable Energy (RE) installed capacity. According to the latest Renewable Energy Statistics 2026 released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), India’s aggressive expansion in solar and wind power has cemented its role as a global green superpower.

A Record-Breaking Year for Green Energy

The announcement, highlighted by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, reveals that India added a staggering 55.3 GW of non-fossil capacity during the 2025–26 financial year. This represents the highest annual increase in the country's history, nearly doubling the 29.5 GW added in the previous year.

As of March 31, 2026, India’s total non-fossil fuel capacity stands at 283.46 GW, which includes 274.68 GW from renewable sources and 8.78 GW from nuclear power.

Solar and Wind Drive the Surge

The backbone of this growth continues to be the solar sector. India’s solar capacity has now reached 150.26 GW, with a record-breaking 44.61 GW added in the last 12 months alone.

Key highlights of the capacity breakdown include:

• Solar Power : 150.26 GW (Total)

• Wind Power : 56.09 GW (Ranked 4th globally)

• Large Hydro : 51.41 GW

• Bio-Energy & Small Hydro : 16.92 GW

Notably, Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE)—including rooftop solar and the PM-KUSUM scheme—contributed over 16 GW to the annual total, showcasing a shift toward localized energy production.

Beating Paris Agreement Targets Early

India has not only climbed the rankings but has also shattered its own timelines. The country achieved its target of having 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in June 2025. This milestone was reached five years ahead of the 2030 deadline set under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Paris Agreement.

In July 2025, India hit another peak, with renewable sources meeting 51.5% of the nation’s total electricity demand of 203 GW.

The Road to 500 GW

The Government of India remains committed to the target of 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030. With solar module manufacturing capacity surging to 172 GW and the National Green Hydrogen Mission gaining momentum, the infrastructure is in place to maintain this trajectory.

"India is no longer just participating in the energy transition; we are leading it," the Ministry stated, emphasizing that the focus will now shift toward scaling up Green Hydrogen and stabilizing the grid with advanced storage solutions.