With great potential comes great responsibility. CEEW analysis finds that India has over 24,000
GW of unconstrained
renewable energy (RE) potential — then comes the responsibility of realising it on the ground.
To go net zero, we need less than one-third of this number: around 7,000 GW.
As of 2024, India has installed ~150 GW of solar and wind
capacity. For instance, Rajasthan’s
Bhadla houses the world’s largest solar park. Khavda in Kachchh, Gujarat, is set to host the
world's largest hybrid RE park.
Level 1: People and land in the mix
300-750 GW
India’s RE sector continues to grow exponentially. But the race to net zero passes through an
obstacle course. Intermittent sunshine, dense population, expensive land, changing climate —
these do not outright prevent deployment, but make the situation a little tricky. So what does
the ride look like? Let's find out.
Level 1: People and land in the mix
300-750 GW
Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, with a solar potential
of 233 GW and wind potential of 16 GW
, is an ideal site for RE development. However, the district—a 4-hour
drive from Chennai and Bengaluru— has a high population
density of 350+ people/sq. km.
This might mean wading through residential areas, built infrastructure, and congested
land.
Level 1: People and land in the mix
300-750 GW
Here, districts like Chittoor offer opportunities to explore distributed RE technologies
such as rooftop solar systems. In fact, CEEW analysis shows that Andhra Pradesh alone has a
residential rooftop potential of 8 GW.
Level 1: People and land in the mix
300-750 GW
With over 500 GW of solar and 150 GW of low-cost wind potential, Tamil Nadu could be a
major RE hub. Up to 50 GW, it has the lowest wind power
generation cost. However, 23% of
its solar potential is in high land price districts such as Tenkasi and Coimbatore.
Level 1: People and land in the mix
300-750 GW
The cost hurdle might be lower in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, which have
10,000 GW+ of solar potential together. But note that the
cost of wind power in Rajasthan
and Madhya Pradesh is higher, meaning that the trade-off between wind and solar continues.
Level 2: Less sunshine, some seismic shakes
750-1500 GW
At 750 GW, we’ve hit 11% of our ~7,000 GW RE goal. But as capacity increases, not all of it
will be available on land with constant good sunshine or wind speed. We may also need to
invest in earthquake-resilient RE infrastructure in high seismic zones.
Level 2: Less sunshine, some seismic shakes
750-1500 GW
Now is also the time to remind you that this is just a simulation of how things could play out.
In this promising sector tech innovation, better storage, and transparent data could change
much of this.
Level 2: Less sunshine, some seismic shakes
750-1500 GW
Ladakh has
1,000 GW+ solar potential at competitive prices, 600
GW of which exists in Leh
alone. But Ladakh is in seismic zone 4, with rugged terrain and need for power transmission
grids. This does not prevent RE deployment, but building earthquake-resilient infrastructure
is expensive.
Level 2: Less sunshine, some seismic shakes
750-1500 GW
In Maharashtra, with a hefty 2,400 GW+ solar potential,
sunlight could be inadequate for
at least four-to-five monsoon heavy months a year in some regions. Chhattisgarh,
Telangana, and Odisha face similar seasonal issues.
Level 2: Less sunshine, some seismic shakes
750-1500 GW
Adequate sunshine is subject to seasonality, making energy storage essential during periods
of good RE availability and for use during periods of peak demand. In 2023, the Union Budget
provided viability gap funding for energy storage systems with a capacity of 4,000 MWH.
Level 3: Climate and conflict
Beyond 1500 GW
Congratulations! We have crossed 10x of India’s current installed RE capacity. Our quest for
further expansion will inevitably lead us to higher climate risk areas. Nearing 3,000 GW
capacity, we could also be entering land mired in conflict.
Level 3: Climate and conflict
Beyond 1500 GW
Karnataka has the highest wind potential in India. Better yet, most of it at lower cost.
Even better, bigger chunks of land are in individual districts — Belgaum has 47 GW,
Chitradurga 38 GW, and Bijapur 36
GW. However, Karnataka also ranks among India’s five most
climate-vulnerable states.
Level 3: Climate and conflict
Beyond 1500 GW
While Odisha is climate vulnerable, it could emerge as a key player in meeting India’s
RE ambitions. Its high RE potential is backed by progressive policies, land banks and
adequate infrastructure to evacuate renewable power and manage seasonality.
Level 3: Climate and conflict
Beyond 1500 GW
However, districts with high solar potential such as Koraput (125
GW) and Kalahandi (98 GW)
have historically experienced land conflicts around issues such as mining and forestry.
Nationally, more than half of onshore wind and solar potential is in districts with at least
one social conflict related to development projects, calling for a formal mechanism for
addressing these.
Beyond 3,000 GW of RE capacity, we face challenges on multiple fronts which makes the road to
net zero narrower.
But India’s RE potential offers many opportunities.
More than 1,400 GW
of net onshore wind potential is in low seismic zones, and ~330
GW is in areas with low land
prices and climate risk.
Similarly, ~5,600 GW of solar potential is in areas with low
land prices and climate risk
exposure.
Newer RE sources could also be game changers. For instance, green
hydrogen can decarbonise
hard-to-abate mobility and industrial sectors. Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra alone can
produce more than 5 MTPA of green hydrogen at less than USD 3.5 per
kg — sufficient to meet
India’s existing domestic demand and its 2030 target for annual green hydrogen production.
With that, this road trip comes to an end. But the road to net zero is long and full of
opportunities.
This
CEEW interactive is based on our latest study 'Unlocking India's RE and Green Hydrogen
Potential: An
Assessment of Land, Water, and Climate Nexus'.