Geography
Mineral and Energy Resources of India
Non-conventional Energy: Solar, Wind, Bioenergy and Green Hydrogen
India's renewable energy in 2026: solar and wind leaders, solar parks, bioenergy, geothermal, tidal, green hydrogen, targets and schemes for CGPSC.
Prerequisites
- Conventional Energy: the coal-heavy system that renewables are now joining, and the installed-capacity figures.
- Climate of India: insolation, monsoon winds and coastal winds that decide where solar and wind work best.
- Non-metallic, Atomic and Critical Minerals: lithium and other minerals that batteries and panels need.
The Hook: A Solar Pump in a Paddy Field
Connect
Across Chhattisgarh, farmers who once waited for a grid connection now run solar pumps under the state’s Saur Sujala Yojana. Rice mills burn husk to make power. In Balrampur district, hot water bubbles out of the ground at Tattapani (तातापानी), one of India’s identified geothermal sites.
At the national scale, India has built one of the world’s largest renewable fleets in a decade. Where does India’s clean energy come from, how much is installed, and what stands between India and its 2030 target?
Why it matters: Prelims asks the leading state for solar and wind, solar parks, mission names, years and targets, and agencies. Mains GS-III asks about the energy transition, its challenges and its link to climate commitments.
Where India Stands (2026)
| Source | Installed capacity, July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Solar | ~164.6 GW, the largest renewable source |
| Wind | ~58 GW |
| Hydro (large and small) | ~57 GW |
| Bio-power | ~11.8 GW |
| Nuclear | ~8.8 GW |
| Total non-fossil | ~300.5 GW, over 54% of total installed capacity of ~552 GW |
- India added a record 55.29 GW of non-fossil capacity in 2025-26, of which solar was about 44.6 GW.
- India ranks third in the world in installed renewable energy capacity (2026), after China and the USA.
- Non-fossil capacity crossed 50% of the total in June 2025, meeting the updated NDC target five years early.
Climate commitments that drive the targets
| Commitment | Target |
|---|---|
| Panchamrit (COP26, Glasgow, November 2021) | 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030; 50% of energy requirements from renewables by 2030; cut 1 billion tonnes of projected emissions by 2030; emissions intensity down 45%; net zero by 2070 |
| Updated NDC (August 2022) | Emissions intensity of GDP down 45% from 2005 levels by 2030; about 50% of cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 |
Solar Energy (सौर ऊर्जा)
India receives strong sunshine on most days of the year. The National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) has estimated a solar potential of about 748 GW (ground-mounted).
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Leading state (installed) | Rajasthan (~42 GW, 2026), then Gujarat. Gujarat added the most new solar in the first half of 2026 |
| Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission | Launched January 2010; original target 20 GW by 2022, raised in 2015 to 100 GW |
| Bhadla Solar Park | Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 2,245 MW: India’s largest commissioned solar park |
| Pavagada | Tumakuru, Karnataka: about 2,000 MW |
| Rewa | Madhya Pradesh: 750 MW |
| Khavda Renewable Energy Park | Rann of Kachchh, Gujarat: planned 30 GW (about 20 GW solar and 10 GW wind) on about 72,000 ha; under construction; set to be the world’s largest renewable energy park |
Solar schemes:
- PM-KUSUM (2019): solar pumps and small solar plants for farmers.
- PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (February 2024): rooftop solar for 1 crore households, up to 300 units free electricity a month, outlay ₹75,021 crore.
- Solar Parks scheme (2014) and Green Energy Corridors (transmission for renewables).
- PLI scheme for high-efficiency solar modules, to cut imports of cells and modules.
International Solar Alliance (अंतर्राष्ट्रीय सौर गठबंधन)
- Launched by India and France on 30 November 2015 at COP21, Paris.
- Headquarters: Gurugram (Haryana), on the NISE campus. It was the first treaty-based international organisation headquartered in India.
- Idea of “One Sun One World One Grid” (OSOWOG) to link solar grids across time zones.
Wind Energy (पवन ऊर्जा)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Installed | About 57–58 GW (mid-2026) |
| Leading state | Gujarat (~16 GW), then Tamil Nadu (~12 GW), Karnataka (~9 GW), Maharashtra, Rajasthan |
| Famous site | Muppandal (Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu): one of India’s oldest and largest wind clusters, fed by winds funnelled through the Aralvaimozhi pass |
| Season | Strongest during the south-west monsoon |
| Offshore wind | Potential off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu (Gulf of Mannar); not yet commissioned at scale |
| Institute | National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai |
Hybrid solar-wind parks (such as Khavda) and storage help smooth out the daily and seasonal variation in output.
Bioenergy (जैव ऊर्जा)
| Form | Detail |
|---|---|
| Biomass power and cogeneration | Rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, crop residue; Chhattisgarh’s rice mills use husk-based power |
| Biogas and GOBARdhan (2018) | Cattle dung and organic waste to biogas or compressed biogas |
| SATAT (2018) | Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation: compressed biogas (CBG) plants |
| Ethanol blending | The Ethanol Blending Programme reached 20% blending (E20) in 2025, five years ahead of the original 2030 target (advanced by the National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, amended 2022) |
| Waste-to-energy | Municipal solid waste plants in cities |
Using crop residue for energy also helps reduce stubble burning.
Other Renewable Sources
| Source | Where in India | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Small hydro | Himalayan and Western Ghats streams, hills of the north-east | Up to 25 MW per plant counts as small hydro under MNRE |
| Geothermal (भूतापीय) | Puga valley (Ladakh), Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh), Tattapani (Balrampur, Chhattisgarh), Cambay basin (Gujarat) | National Policy on Geothermal Energy notified by MNRE on 15 September 2025; no commercial geothermal plant yet |
| Tidal (ज्वारीय) | Gulf of Khambhat and Gulf of Kachchh (Gujarat), Sundarbans (West Bengal) | The Gulf of Khambhat has the highest tidal range on India’s coast; projects are still at the study stage |
| Wave | Vizhinjam (Kerala) | Early pilot plant in the 1990s |
| Ocean thermal | Lakshadweep | Pilot low-temperature thermal desalination (fresh water rather than power) |
Green Hydrogen (हरित हाइड्रोजन)
Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using renewable electricity, with no carbon emissions. It can decarbonise steel, fertilisers, refineries and heavy transport.
| Colour | How it is made |
|---|---|
| Grey | From natural gas, CO₂ released |
| Blue | From natural gas, CO₂ captured and stored |
| Green | Electrolysis with renewable power |
National Green Hydrogen Mission (approved 4 January 2023):
- Outlay ₹19,744 crore
- Target: 5 million tonnes a year of green hydrogen by 2030, with about 125 GW of associated renewable capacity
- SIGHT programme: incentives for electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production
Institutions
| Body | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) | Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources from 1992, renamed MNRE in 2006 | Nodal ministry; its origins go back to the Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (1981) |
| IREDA | 1987 | Finances renewable projects |
| SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) | 2011 | Runs solar and hybrid auctions |
| NISE / NIWE / NIBE | — | Solar (Gurugram), wind (Chennai), bioenergy (Kapurthala) institutes |
| CREDA (Chhattisgarh) | 2001 | State nodal agency; Saur Sujala Yojana (2016) solar pumps |
Analysis for Mains: Challenges of the Energy Transition
- Intermittency: solar works only by day and wind is seasonal. India needs battery storage (a Viability Gap Funding scheme for battery storage was approved in 2023) and pumped storage.
- Transmission: the best sites (Rajasthan and Gujarat deserts, Ladakh) are far from demand centres. Green Energy Corridors and inter-state lines are bottlenecks.
- Land and ecology: large solar parks use land; transmission lines in Rajasthan threaten the Great Indian Bustard.
- Import dependence: cells, wafers, polysilicon and battery minerals come largely from abroad, which is why PLI schemes and the Critical Mineral Mission matter.
- Discom finances: loss-making distribution companies delay payments to renewable generators.
- Just transition: coal states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha need new jobs and revenue as coal declines.
Chhattisgarh angle: CREDA’s solar pumps and solar-powered health centres in remote Bastar villages, rice-husk biomass plants, and Tattapani geothermal potential show how a coal state can begin to diversify.
Memory Tricks
Solar vs wind leaders: 'Rajasthan Shines, Gujarat Blows'
Solar: Rajasthan first, Gujarat second. Wind: Gujarat first, Tamil Nadu second. Gujarat appears in both top twos; Tamil Nadu (the old wind leader) is now second in wind.
Mission numbers: '2010 – 2015 – 2019 – 2023 – 2024'
2010 Solar Mission (JNNSM) · 2015 ISA at Paris · 2019 PM-KUSUM · 2023 Green Hydrogen Mission (5 MMT, ₹19,744 cr) · 2024 PM Surya Ghar (1 crore homes, 300 units). Climate: 500 GW by 2030, net zero by 2070.
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Bhadla (Rajasthan): largest commissioned solar park, 2,245 MW | vs | Khavda (Gujarat): 30 GW hybrid park, under construction |
| Rajasthan: solar leader | vs | Gujarat: wind leader |
| ISA HQ: Gurugram | vs | IRENA HQ: Abu Dhabi |
| Puga (Ladakh): geothermal | vs | Gulf of Khambhat: tidal |
| Tattapani (Chhattisgarh): geothermal hot springs | vs | Tatapani-Ramkola: a coalfield of the same region |
| Small hydro: up to 25 MW | vs | Large hydro: above 25 MW (counted as renewable since 2019) |
| Green hydrogen: electrolysis with renewables | vs | Blue hydrogen: gas with carbon capture |
| PM-KUSUM: farmers, solar pumps | vs | PM Surya Ghar: households, rooftop |
Common Mistakes
MCQ traps
- “Tamil Nadu has the largest installed wind capacity.” Outdated. Gujarat overtook it and leads as of 2026.
- “The 500 GW by 2030 target is for solar alone.” False. It is for non-fossil capacity, including wind, hydro and nuclear.
- “India’s net-zero year is 2050.” False. India’s target is 2070.
- “The International Solar Alliance is headquartered in Paris.” False. It was launched at Paris (COP21), but its headquarters are in Gurugram.
- “Green hydrogen is made from natural gas.” False. That is grey or blue hydrogen.
- “India has an operating tidal power station in the Gulf of Khambhat.” False. Tidal projects have not gone beyond studies.
Practice
All questions below are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- The International Solar Alliance has its headquarters at ________.
- The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets ________ million tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2030.
- Tattapani, a geothermal site of Chhattisgarh, is in ________ district.
Answers
- Gurugram (Haryana).
- 5 million tonnes.
- Balrampur (Balrampur-Ramanujganj).
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about India’s renewable energy as of 2026:
- Rajasthan has the largest installed solar capacity among the states.
- Tamil Nadu has the largest installed wind capacity among the states.
- Solar power is the largest source of India’s non-fossil installed capacity.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 1 and 3 only. Rajasthan leads in installed solar (about 42 GW). In wind, Gujarat now leads (about 16 GW), with Tamil Nadu second, so statement 2 is wrong. Solar (about 165 GW) is by far the largest non-fossil source.
Q2. Match List I (Scheme or mission) with List II (Feature):
| List I | List II |
|---|---|
| A. PM-KUSUM | 1. Rooftop solar for 1 crore households |
| B. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana | 2. 5 MMT of green hydrogen by 2030 |
| C. National Green Hydrogen Mission | 3. Solar pumps for farmers |
| D. SATAT | 4. Compressed biogas plants |
- (a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
- (b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
- (c) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
- (d) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
Answer and explanation
(a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4. PM-KUSUM (2019) is for farmers’ solar pumps; PM Surya Ghar (2024) is for household rooftops; the Green Hydrogen Mission (2023) targets 5 MMT a year by 2030; SATAT (2018) promotes compressed biogas.
Q3. The Bhadla Solar Park is located in which district?
- (a) Jaisalmer
- (b) Jodhpur
- (c) Kachchh
- (d) Tumakuru
Answer and explanation
(b) Jodhpur (Rajasthan), 2,245 MW. Kachchh is the site of the Khavda park (Gujarat), and Tumakuru of Pavagada (Karnataka).
Q4. Which of the following places in India are associated with geothermal energy?
- Puga valley
- Manikaran
- Tattapani
- Muppandal
Select the correct answer using the code below:
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
- (c) 2, 3 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer and explanation
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only. Puga (Ladakh), Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh) and Tattapani (Chhattisgarh) are geothermal sites. Muppandal (Tamil Nadu) is a wind energy cluster.
Q5. India’s target of 500 GW by 2030, announced at COP26, refers to:
- (a) Solar capacity
- (b) Renewable capacity excluding hydro
- (c) Non-fossil fuel based capacity
- (d) Total power capacity
Answer and explanation
(c) Non-fossil fuel based capacity. It includes solar, wind, hydro, bio-power and nuclear. About 300 GW was installed by July 2026.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. (60 words) What is green hydrogen? Why is it important for India?
Model answer outline
- Definition: hydrogen from electrolysis of water using renewable electricity; no CO₂.
- Importance: decarbonises hard-to-abate sectors (steel, fertilisers, refineries, heavy transport); cuts import of gas and ammonia; export opportunity.
- Policy: National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023), ₹19,744 crore, 5 MMT a year by 2030.
- Chhattisgarh angle: steel at Bhilai and Raigarh could use it.
Q2. (150–200 words) India has met its 50% non-fossil capacity target well ahead of 2030, yet coal still dominates generation. Discuss the challenges of India’s energy transition and suggest a way forward.
Model answer outline
- Intro: Non-fossil capacity crossed 50% in June 2025 and stood at about 300 GW of 552 GW in July 2026, but coal plants still generate most electricity.
- Why the gap: solar and wind have low capacity factors and are intermittent; coal provides base load and evening peak.
- Challenges:
- Storage: batteries and pumped hydro still small.
- Transmission bottlenecks from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Ladakh.
- Import dependence for cells, polysilicon and critical minerals.
- Discom finances and payment delays.
- Land and ecology (Great Indian Bustard).
- Just transition for coal regions.
- Way forward: battery VGF and pumped storage; Green Energy Corridors; PLI for modules; NCMM for minerals; green hydrogen for industry; nuclear expansion (100 GW by 2047); skilling and diversification for coal districts.
- Chhattisgarh angle: Korba’s dependence on coal; CREDA solar pumps and rice-husk biomass as early steps; Tattapani geothermal potential.
- Conclusion: The capacity milestone is real progress; the next phase is making clean power firm and dispatchable.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Non-fossil capacity | ~300.5 GW, over 54% of ~552 GW (July 2026) |
| By source | Solar ~164.6 GW; wind ~58 GW; hydro ~57 GW; bio ~11.8 GW; nuclear ~8.8 GW |
| 50% NDC target | Met in June 2025, five years early |
| COP26 Panchamrit | 500 GW non-fossil by 2030; net zero 2070 |
| Solar leader | Rajasthan; then Gujarat |
| Wind leader | Gujarat; then Tamil Nadu, Karnataka |
| Solar parks | Bhadla (Jodhpur, 2,245 MW); Pavagada; Rewa; Khavda (Kachchh, 30 GW planned) |
| JNNSM | 2010; 100 GW solar target (2015 revision) |
| ISA | India + France, 30 Nov 2015, COP21; HQ Gurugram |
| PM-KUSUM / PM Surya Ghar | 2019 farmers / Feb 2024, 1 crore homes, 300 units, ₹75,021 cr |
| Green Hydrogen Mission | 4 Jan 2023; ₹19,744 cr; 5 MMT/year by 2030 |
| Ethanol | E20 reached in 2025 |
| Geothermal | Puga, Manikaran, Tattapani (CG); policy 15 Sep 2025 |
| Tidal | Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Kachchh, Sundarbans |
| Agencies | MNRE (2006 name), IREDA (1987), SECI (2011), CREDA (CG, 2001) |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- India’s non-fossil capacity is over half of installed capacity (2026), led by solar; the 2030 target is 500 GW.
- Rajasthan leads solar, Gujarat leads wind; Khavda in Kachchh will be the world’s largest renewable park.
- Key schemes: JNNSM (2010), PM-KUSUM (2019), Green Hydrogen Mission (2023), PM Surya Ghar (2024); ISA (2015) is India’s global solar platform.
- Geothermal and tidal remain largely untapped; Tattapani is Chhattisgarh’s geothermal site.
- The transition’s bottlenecks are storage, transmission, imports and a just transition for coal states.
What’s Next
- Mineral and Energy Resources — Quick Revision: the whole chapter on one page
- Energy Resources (Science and Technology): how solar cells, wind turbines and reactors work
- Environment and Ecology: climate change and India’s commitments
- Power Generation in Chhattisgarh: CREDA and solar in the state
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