Solar and wind expansion may drive USD 10-15 bn land investments by 2030: Report
New Delhi, May 20
India's push to expand solar and wind power capacity is likely to create USD 10-15 billion worth of opportunities in land aggregation and acquisition by 2030, as large-scale renewable projects gather pace across the country, according to a report released by Colliers India.
The projected investment is being driven by India's target to scale up non-fossil fuel energy sources and achieve 500 GW of non-fossil-based installed capacity by 2030. The report said solar and wind projects are expected to add 270-300 GW of capacity by the end of the decade, creating fresh demand for land, industrial space and warehousing.
As per the report, the planned capacity addition is expected to require nearly 7 lakh acres of land across the country, opening up opportunities for land acquisition, project development and related real estate activities.
"By 2030, the upcoming solar and wind projects would translate into USD 10-15 billion opportunity in land aggregation and acquisition," the report said.
It added that India's renewable energy capacity stood at around 251 GW in 2025, while projects of nearly 146 GW are currently under various stages of construction and are expected to be completed over the next few years.
The report said the renewable sector is expected to attract USD 110-120 billion investment in the coming years, primarily for solar and wind projects, which will also drive demand for industrial and warehousing infrastructure by equipment manufacturers.
It further noted that renewable energy Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are expected to lease 4-7 million square feet of Grade A industrial and warehousing space annually by 2030, accounting for 10-15 per cent of total demand in the segment.
"Renewable energy will not only accelerate India's decarbonization journey but also drive development of growth corridors and investment destinations, catalyzing long-term sustainable growth across the country," the report said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some concrete numbers! ₹75,000-1,00,000 crore in land investments is no joke. As someone working in renewable sector, I can tell you the real challenge isn't just land acquisition but also grid connectivity and evacuation infrastructure. The government needs to fast-track transmission line approvals alongside these projects. Still, a very positive development for India's green transition 🇮🇳
Impressive projections! Having worked on renewable projects in Gujarat, I've seen how solar parks can transform rural economies. The 4-7 million sq ft demand for industrial space by OEMs is particularly interesting - this means component manufacturing could create thousands of jobs. Hope the report also considers the logistics infrastructure needed to support this growth.
Good initiative but I'm skeptical about the land requirement. We already have thousands of acres of government wasteland lying unused. Why not develop solar parks on those lands instead of eyeing fertile agricultural land? Also, what about the environmental impact of clearing forest land for wind projects? We need smarter planning, not just big targets on paper.
As a farmer from Maharashtra, I can tell you this: the land mafia will have a field day with these numbers. We've already seen solar companies buying cheap farmland and leaving it fallow for years. Government should mandate that solar projects include agrivoltaics - farming below panels - so land continues to produce food. Also, ensure local communities get electricity at subsidized rates from these parks.
These are significant figures but the devil is in the execution. India's track record with land acquisition has been mixed at best - remember
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.