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					</table><p>India&#8217;s large-scale solar project pipeline has crossed a significant milestone, exceeding 200 GW for the first time, according to data from the <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product/india-solar-project-tracker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Renewable Energy Project Tracker</a>.</p>
<p>The milestone underscores the scale of project development underway across the country and reinforces the view that India&#8217;s target of 280 GW of installed solar capacity by 2030 is increasingly within reach.</p>
<p>More than 150 GW, representing nearly 75% of the total pipeline, is currently under development, while approximately 51 GW is in the pre-construction stage. The strong pipeline reflects sustained investor interest and developer confidence despite evolving policy requirements, transmission constraints, and supply chain challenges.</p>
<p>India&#8217;s operational large-scale solar capacity currently stands at over 134 GW.</p>
<p>The composition of operational capacity also reflects evolving market dynamics. Central sector projects account for approximately 38% of installed large-scale solar capacity, state sector projects represent about 35%, and open access projects contribute nearly 26%.</p>
<p>The growing share of open access projects demonstrates the increasing role of commercial and industrial (C&amp;I) consumers in India&#8217;s energy transition. Rising electricity costs, sustainability commitments, and greater familiarity with renewable energy procurement mechanisms continue to drive demand from the C&amp;I segment.</p>
<p>The strong development pipeline comes on the back of record solar installations. According to Mercom India&#8217;s Q1 2026 India Solar Market Update Report, India installed 15.3 GW of solar capacity during the first quarter of 2026, the highest quarterly total ever recorded. Cumulative installed solar capacity exceeded 152 GW as of March 2026.</p>
<p>The robust solar pipeline and record capacity additions in 2025 suggest that India is well-positioned to achieve its target of 500 GW of non-fossil-fuel-based renewable energy capacity by 2030. The target for installed solar capacity is 280 GW, which means India must add about 130 GW between now and 2030, averaging 30 GW per year over the next four years. Given the pace of recent capacity additions and the strength of the development pipeline, the target appears achievable, provided project execution remains on track.</p>
<p>In 2025, India <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-posts-historic-solar-growth-with-36-6-gw-installed-in-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a> an unprecedented 36.6 GW of solar capacity, a 43% increase from 25.6 GW in 2024. This growth was supported by utility-scale project commissioning, rising open access demand, and improved project execution across several states.</p>
<p>While the target appears achievable, a recent policy initiative of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (<a href="https://mnre.gov.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MNRE</a>) has raised concerns among stakeholders. The introduction of the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers List-II for solar cells from June 1, 2026, could slow capacity additions in the short term. ALMM List-II mandates that all projects complying with ALMM List-I for solar modules must use domestically manufactured cells.</p>
<p>The solar cell mandate was introduced to create an indigenous solar manufacturing ecosystem that reduces reliance on imports. However, while India’s solar module manufacturing capacity is more than adequate, cell manufacturing has lagged. In May, the cumulative module manufacturing capacity under ALMM <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solar-module-capacity-under-almm-rises-to-193-gw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stood</a> at 193 GW, while that of cells had only <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/solar-cell-capacity-under-almm-list-ii-nears-30-gw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached</a> 30.5 GW.</p>
<p>The industry fears ALMM List-II-compliant solar cells will be in short supply, hampering capacity additions. The industry&#8217;s ability to rapidly scale domestic cell production will be critical to avoiding supply bottlenecks and sustaining the pace of solar deployment needed to meet national renewable energy targets.</p>
<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/product-category/india-reports/trackers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom India Market Trackers</a> for a comprehensive suite of renewable energy trackers and datasets covering projects, manufacturing, policy, pricing, trade, and market trends across India.</p>


India’s Large-Scale Solar Pipeline Tops 200 GW


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					</table><p>India’s average solar irradiance ranges from 3.5–5.5 kWh/m²/day across the country, with nearly every state offering significant potential for solar energy generation. However, several states with high irradiance and ample wasteland have failed to tap into the opportunity.</p>
<p>Last September, the National Institute of Solar Energy (<a href="https://nise.res.in/hi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NISE</a>) estimated a total feasible ground-mounted solar energy potential of a staggering 3,343 GWp, building on a 2014 figure of 748.98 GWp.</p>
<p>The gap between solar potential and capacity expansion is huge, even though India has made significant strides in solar capacity additions over the last few years, with 2025 <a href="https://www.mercomindia.com/india-posts-historic-solar-growth-with-36-6-gw-installed-in-2025" target="_blank" rel="noopener">witnessing</a> an unprecedented 36.6 GW of installations. The numbers could have been far higher if some states had tapped even a small portion of their potential.</p>
<p>States such as Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand in the eastern and central Indian rust belt have conditions tailor-made for solar energy development. Together, the three states account for a potential of over 316 GW. However, their record in solar installations is dismal.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://datapulse.mercomindia.com/large-scale-solar?tab=Installations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mercom’s India Project Tracker</a>, Odisha has an operational solar capacity of just 624 MW and a pipeline of 1,431 MW, against a potential of 139 GW. The state’s solar irradiance is in a healthy range of 3.76 to 5.24 kWh/m²/day.</p>
<p>The central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, with a solar potential of 126.48 GW, has an operational capacity of 1,142 MW and a pipeline of 282 MW. The state’s solar irradiance is in the 4.18 to 5.28/kWh/m2/day range.</p>
<p>Similarly, Jharkhand, which receives solar irradiance ranging from 3.7 to 5.21 kWh/m²/day, has only 140 MW of operational solar capacity and a pipeline of 490 MW.</p>
<p>All three states are home to energy-intensive industries, such as mining and mineral processing, and iron and steel.</p>
<p>Other states with significant solar potential include Bihar (32.99 GW), which has an operational capacity of 356 MW and a pipeline of 732 MW. The northeastern state of Assam is another with an identified potential solar capacity of 19.17 GW, but has only 299 MW of operational installations and a pipeline of 1,275 MW.</p>
<p>West Bengal is another laggard solar state, with 435 MW of projects in operation and a small pipeline of 131 MW, while NISE has estimated its total solar energy potential at 22.74 GW.</p>
<p>The NISE report integrates advanced geospatial datasets and refined methodologies, accounting for key development constraints, including terrain (slope and aspect), sustainable land use, solar irradiance, and proximity to roads and electrical substations. It identifies a total feasible ground-mounted solar potential of 3,343 GWp across India, derived from 27,571 km² of suitable wasteland.</p>
<p>Apart from the well-known regions of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, which have vast wastelands and high irradiance, many other states also show significant capacity owing to favorable solar geometry and land-use efficiency, the report points out.</p>


High Irradiance, Low Installations: The Solar Gap in Eastern and Central India

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