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India Adds Record 52,537 MW Power Capacity in 2025-26, Solar Leads Surge

India achieved a record expansion of its power generation capacity, adding 52,537 MW in the first ten months of the 2025-26 financial year. Renewable energy sources, primarily solar power, drove approximately 80% of this unprecedented growth. The nation's total installed capacity now exceeds 520,000 MW, with non-fossil fuel capacity surpassing fossil fuel-based capacity for the first time. This milestone underscores India's significant progress in its energy transition and clean energy commitments.

Key Points: India's Record Power Capacity Growth in 2025-26: Solar Leads

  • Record 52,537 MW added in 10 months
  • 80% of new capacity from renewables
  • Solar power leads with 34,955 MW
  • Non-fossil capacity now exceeds fossil fuels
2 min read

India adds over 50,000 MW of power capacity in 2025-26, led by solar energy

India added a record 52,537 MW of power capacity in 2025-26, with renewables like solar driving 80% of the growth. See the energy mix shift.

"This marks the highest ever capacity addition in a single year - Ministry of Power"

New Delhi, February 15

India's total power generation capacity has expanded by 52,537 megawatt during the first ten months of the 2025-26 financial year. According to the Ministry of Power, this addition represents an 11.22 per cent increase in the country's total installed capacity between April 2025 and January 31, 2026. This growth significantly exceeds the 34,054 MW added during the previous financial year.

The Ministry of Power confirmed the record-breaking nature of this expansion, stating: "This marks the highest ever capacity addition in a single year, surpassing the previous record of 34,054 MW achieved during FY 2024-25. Further, this also implies that during 2025-26 (upto 31.1.2026), there was an addition of more than 11% to the total installed capacity of the country."

Renewable energy has emerged as the primary driver of this growth, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of the new capacity added this year. Solar power led the installations with 34,955 MW, followed by 4,613 MW from wind power. This trend underscores India's ongoing energy transition and its progress towards meeting international clean energy commitments.

Detailing the sources of this new generation, the Ministry of Power noted: "Of this, 39,657 MW has been added from Renewable Energy sources, which includes 34,955 MW of Solar Power, 4,613 MW of Wind Power." These figures highlight the increasing reliance on sustainable sources to meet the nation's rising energy demand.

As of January 31, 2026, India's total installed power generation capacity reached 520,510.95 MW. The current energy mix shows that non-fossil fuel sources, which include renewables and nuclear power, now account for 271,969.33 MW, while fossil fuel-based capacity stands at 248,541.62 MW. This shift marks a significant point in the country's efforts to balance industrial growth with environmental sustainability.

The Ministry of Power provided a breakdown of the total figures, stating: "As on 31 January 2026, India's total installed power generation capacity stands at 520,510.95 MW, comprising: Fossil Fuel-Based Capacity: 248,541.62 MW [and] Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity: 271,969.33 MW."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone working in the renewable sector, these numbers are very encouraging. The 80% share for renewables is a clear signal. The challenge now is storage and managing the intermittent nature of solar and wind. But a great step forward for energy security!
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Vikram M
Waah! Non-fossil capacity is now more than fossil fuel capacity. That's a historic milestone no one is talking about enough. This is real progress for our climate goals. Hope the momentum continues and brings down electricity costs for the common man. 👍
R
Rohit P
Good numbers on paper. But what about the quality of power? In my city, we still face 2-3 hour cuts in summer. Adding capacity is one thing, upgrading the distribution network is another. The government needs to focus equally on the last mile.
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Priya S
This is a proud moment for India's engineering and policy efforts. Leading with solar makes so much sense for our country. I just installed rooftop solar panels and my bill has almost vanished! More people should be encouraged to do the same with better subsidies.
M
Michael C
Impressive growth rate. The scale of India's energy transition is something the whole world is watching. The 34,955 MW of solar alone is more than many countries' total capacity. A crucial development for global carbon emissions.

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