Which Indian states have the highest potential to produce solar energy?

R.K. Singh, the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power in India, told the Parliament that India could potentially produce 748 GWp (Giga Watt peak) of solar energy, as estimated by the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), based on the data from Waste Land Atlas of India 2010.

The information was provided by R. K. Singh, the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power, in his written responses to two different questions in the Rajya Sabha.

Rajasthan is the state with the highest solar power potential in India, capable of producing 1,42,310 MW. The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir follows it with 1,11,050 MW, and Maharashtra follows with 64,320 MW.

The minister reported that as of December 31, 2023, 12 states have approved 51 solar parks since the start of the program in December 2014. These parks can produce a total of 37,740 MW of solar power. In 20 of these parks, completed solar projects have so far produced 10,504 MW of power.

The government aims to have 500 GW of power from sources that don’t use fossil fuels by 2030. This goal aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement at COP-26 in Glasgow.

State/ut-wise details of solar potential

Sl. No.	Name of State/UT	Solar Potential (MWp)
1	Rajasthan	142310
2	Jammu & Kashmir	111050
3	Madhya Pradesh	61660
4	Maharashtra	64320
5	Andhra Pradesh	38440
6	Uttar Pradesh	22830
7	Gujarat	35770
8	Karnataka	24700
9	Tamil Nadu	17670
10	Orissa	25780
11	Telangana	20410
12	Chhattisgarh	18270
13	Jharkhand	18180
14	Himachal Pradesh	33840
15	West Bengal	6260
16	Kerala	6110
17	Assam	13760
18	Bihar	11200
19	Punjab	2810
20	Haryana	4560
21	Uttarakhand	16800
22	Manipur	10630
23	Meghalaya	5860
24	Nagaland	7290
25	Mizoram	9090
26	Tripura	2080
27	Sikkim	4940
28	Arunachal Pradesh	8650
29	Goa	880
30	Delhi	2050
31	Others (UTs)	790
	Total	748990.00 (748 GWp)

R.K. Singh, the Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy and Power in India, revealed the state-wise allocation of funds for the advancement of the solar energy sector during the last financial year. Providing a comprehensive breakdown, Singh highlighted the significant strides made in solar energy development across various states.

As of the end of the year, specifically December 31, 2023, the relevant authorities in the country have approved 51 solar parks. Not one particular region, but 12 states across the nation have consolidated these approved renewable energy developments, demonstrating their commitment to green energy.

Once operational, these solar parks will deliver a substantial combined capacity of 37,740 MW. Initiatives introduced since the first enactment of the Solar Park Scheme in December 2014 have cumulatively resulted in this significant figure.

Solar Power capacity installed from 2019-20 to 2023-24

S.N.	Year	Added capacity(MW)	Cumulative Solar Capacity Installed (MW)
1	2019-20	6510	35607
2	2020-21	5629	41236
3	2021-22	12761	53997
4	2022-23	12784	66781
5	2023-24 (up to Dec 2023)	6538	73319

The government aims to reach a target of 500 GW of power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. This goal aligns with the announcement made by the Prime Minister at COP-26 in Glasgow. However, there are no specific targets set for each state.

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