Renewable Energy Sources in India

Renewable energy comes from natural sources that are replenished faster than they are used. For instance, sunlight and wind are continuously renewed. These energy sources are constantly and widely available all around us.

Fossil fuels like oil,coal, and gas are non-renewable resources that require millions of years to form. When burned for making energy, they release harmful greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.

Making renewable energy generates lower emissions as compared to burning fossil fuels., Transitioning from fossil fuels, which are the main source of today's emissions, to renewable energy is important to addressing the climate crisis.

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Types of Renewable Energy Sources in India

India relies on various energy sources to meet its rising energy demands. Here’s let's explore the Types of Renewable Energy

Solar Energy

Solar power is one of India’s most widely used renewable energies. With approximately 300- 330 sunny days each year, the country has ideal power generation. Government incentives and fallng costs of solar projects, rooftop panels are becoming more popular.

Wind Energy

Wind power is also the main source of renewable energy, especially in various states of India like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Wind turbines capture the kinetic energy into electricity, adding to the country's renewable energy resources.

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Hydroelectric Power

India has long used its water resources to generate electricity. Hydropower is also a type of Renewable energy, it produces electricity using the power of falling water. Its energy sector includes both large dams and smaller hydroelectric projects.

Biomass Energy

Biomass energy is produced from organic materials such as leftovers, animal waste, and forestry byproducts. It generates a valuable and sustainable resource locally, especially in rural areas.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy, though not widely used in India, is being explored in areas with geothermal activity. It generates power by tapping into the Earth’s heat, providing a steady and reliable power source.

Tidal Energy

Tidal energy generates power by using the gravitational forces of the moon, the sun, and Earth’s rotation. While technology is still developing, India shows strong energy projects for tidal energy projects.

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Renewable Energy Sector - Overview

India's energy sector has seen a major transformation, with the growing emphasis on renewable sources in the era of sustainability. As the world moves towards sustainable development, India's renewable energy sector is opening net doors. For some decades, India has made significant progress in diversifying its energy mix, gradually reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and setting a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy by 2030. In the last 8.5 years, India’s installed non-fossil fuel capacity has grown by 396%, and is expected to reach over 228 GW (including large hydro and nuclear), which accounts for around 50% of the total country’s capacity. Solar power has witnessed a 39-fold surge in adoption, with installed capacity increasing from a mere 2.5 GW in 2014 to about 110.09 GW as of June 2025. Government's initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance, showcase India's solar energy potential and its ability to the country's potential to harness solar power energy in collaboration with more over 120 member countries.