India ranks third in solar energy production, leaving behind Japan

India has achieved a significant milestone in solar energy production, securing the third position globally, as revealed by the latest report from Ember, a prominent energy sector think tank, titled 'Global Electricity Review 2024'.

Amber's data highlights India's remarkable progress in solar energy production over the years. In 2009, India stood at the ninth position, generating 6.57 terawatt-hours of solar energy. Fast forward to 2023, and India has surged to the third position, with a substantial production of 113.41 terawatt-hours, surpassing established players like Japan and Germany.

Presently, India follows only China, with 584.15 terawatt-hours, and the United States, with 238.12 terawatt-hours, in solar energy production. This remarkable ascent underscores India's concerted efforts to advance its solar energy infrastructure in recent years.

On February 13, the Government of India launched the PM Suryaghar- Free Electricity Scheme, allocating Rs 75,021 crore to provide free electricity to one crore households.

This scheme aims to install rooftop solar plants of up to three kilowatts each, totalling 100 crore units of electricity generation over 25 years. By reducing emissions equivalent to approximately 720 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, India demonstrates its commitment to addressing climate change challenges and aligning with its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Globally, solar energy production surged sixfold from 2015 to 2023, with India witnessing a seventeenfold increase during the same period. While solar energy accounted for 0.5 per cent of India's electricity production in 2015, it soared to 5.8 per cent by 2023.

Notably, India ranked fourth globally in terms of the increase in solar energy production by 2023, trailing behind China, America, and Brazil. India's energy demand also surged by 99.44 terawatt-hours in 2023.