900 GW is India's Estimated Renewable Energy Potential

Source Wise Power Installed Capacity in India

The total installed capacity has reached to 310 GW with generation mix of thermal (69.4%), renewable (14.8%), hydro (13.9%) and nuclear (1.9%). Clearly, renewable energy has registered an impressive growth in the last couple of years, becoming the second largest source of power in India after thermal sources. The government of India has set an aggressive target of renewable power capacity to 175 GW which includes 100 GW from solar, 60 GW from wind, 10 GW from bio-power and 5 GW from small hydro power to be achieved by 2022.

Given above is the current installed power capacity in India. Though thermal sources in India are facing the threat of rising climate concerns and global warming, it can be noted that thermal generation occupies the largest share of the Indian power pie. The cost of installing renewable source of power like solar energy has considerably dropped in recent times and has started to reach grid parity at places even in India. It is just a matter of time when renewable sources could be the leading power generators in India. However, the country needs to work on its transmission and distribution infrastructure and also adapt to the intermittent nature of renewable sources of power.

State wise Renewable Energy Potential 

India has an estimated renewable energy potential of about 900 GW. Given below is the renewable energy potential of different Indian states.

Rajasthan has the highest potential for solar energy installation followed by Jammu & Kashmir, madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.