India’s journey since independence has been intrinsically linked to its quest for energy. This journey has been a dynamic evolution, shaped by global crises, technological advancements, and a growing national consciousness towards sustainability. It is a story of shifting priorities, from building foundational might to aspiring for global leadership in a clean energy transition, with solar energy emerging as the unexpected protagonist.
A humble beginning
At the dawn of Independence in 1947, India’s total installed power generation capacity was a mere 1362 MW, of which thermal power accounted for just 756 MW. While the country’s first hydroelectric power plant had been installed decades earlier in Sidrapong, Darjeeling, in 1897, the combined might of these sources was incredibly limited. Power supply was restricted to a few urban areas, and virtually none of India’s villages had electricity. The annual per capita electricity consumption was a meagre 16.3 kWh. The national imperative was rapid industrialisation, and the energy policy was a direct reflection of this goal, focused on large, centralised power generation through massive hydroelectric dams and new coal-fired thermal plants — the “temples of modern India.”
The oil shocks of the 1970s
The global oil crises of 1973 and 1979 were a profound shock to India’s developing economy. As global oil prices quadrupled, our heavy reliance on imported crude oil exposed a critical economic vulnerability. The crisis sent ripples through every sector, forcing a fundamental reassessment of our energy strategy. For the first time, energy security was not just about capacity but also about source diversification and self-reliance. This period marked the true genesis of India’s non-conventional energy programme, driving the initial search for homegrown energy solutions like biogas, wind and small-scale solar applications.
Renewables: A Gradual Ascent
Through the 1980s and 90s, the renewable energy sector saw a slow but steady growth. For a long time, wind energy was the flag-bearer of India’s renewable ambitions, demonstrating that clean energy could be generated on a significant scale and fed into the national grid. During this phase, solar energy remained a secondary player due to high costs. Its role was confined to valuable but niche off-grid applications like powering remote telecom towers, village streetlights, and irrigation pumps, which built a foundation of technical expertise and proved solar’s reliability in diverse Indian conditions.
The solar revolution: A new era
The 21st century saw a perfect storm of factors that would catapult solar energy to the forefront: falling global prices of photovoltaic (PV) panels and a growing urgency to combat climate change. India seized this opportunity with the launch of the National Solar Mission in 2010. This was a watershed moment, transforming solar from a peripheral option into a central pillar of our energy strategy through ambitious targets and innovative mechanisms like large-scale solar parks.
The results have been revolutionary. From a negligible base, solar power has driven a massive expansion in our energy capabilities.
A global leader in solar
Today, India’s total installed power capacity stands at approximately 490 GW — a monumental leap from the 1362 MW at independence. This expansion has powered our growth, with the annual per capita electricity consumption soaring from 16.3 kWh to nearly 1600 kWh today.
The energy mix itself tells the story of our transition. While coal still forms the base with 45.2% of capacity, renewable sources have made incredible inroads. Solar power alone constitutes a remarkable 24.29%, with wind energy adding another 10.64%. Hydropower, with a vast untapped potential of about 145 GW, currently contributes around 10%, while nuclear power remains a smaller component at about 8.9 GW.
India now stands at the forefront of the global energy transition, guided by a clear vision. The nation has set one of the world’s most ambitious targets: to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030; which has been achieved five years before time according to an union government communique at the just concluded COP 30 held at Belem, Brazil.
This is a critical milestone on our journey towards the goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070. Our mission extends beyond domestic goals, aiming for global leadership in providing clean and affordable energy for all, with the boundless energy of the sun lighting our path forward.
Santi Pada Gon Chaudhuri. The founder – president of NB Institute for Rural Technology (NBIRT), is a pioneer of the solar energy campaign in India