India adds 35.2 GW of solar capacity in the first nine months of 2026

By Staff Report October 13, 2026 6:25 pm IST

Utility-scale solar accounted for 24.4GW of additions between January and September 2026, while rooftop solar contributed 9.8GW.

India has achieved a milestone in renewable energy installations by adding nearly 35.2GW of solar capacity during the first nine months of 2026, between January and September 2026, with solar capacity amounting to a 19.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year according to the report by JMK Research.

According to data by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, cumulative renewable energy capacity in India reached approximately 299.2GW as of September 2026, with solar accounting for around 57% of the total, making it the largest contributor to the country’s renewable energy capacity mix. The solar figures include utility-scale, rooftop and off-grid and distributed installations.

Utility-scale solar accounted for 24.4GW of additions between January and September 2026, while rooftop solar contributed 9.8GW. Solar capacity additions increased by around 19.5% year on year during the period. Additions were highest in the first quarter, at 12.12GW, before declining to 6.87GW in the second quarter and 5.4GW in the third quarter.

The quarterly figures indicate a steady decline in utility-scale solar capacity additions as the year progressed, with installations in the third quarter less than half the level recorded in the first quarter. Rooftop solar contributed approximately 9.8GW of new capacity between January and September 2026, including around 34% of the total during the third quarter alone. Cumulative rooftop solar installations reached approximately 33.4GW by the end of September.

Off-grid and distributed solar installations added around 1,041MW during the nine-month period, accounting for about 3% of total solar capacity additions.

Gujarat led India’s combined solar and wind capacity additions during the first nine months of 2026, with approximately 12.9GW installed, followed by Rajasthan at around 9GW and Maharashtra at approximately 3GW, according to JMK Research.

In terms of state wise installations, there five leading states — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh — collectively accounted for around 76% of combined solar and wind capacity additions during the period. Gujarat and Rajasthan together contributed approximately 55% of the total, with Gujarat in the lead as sole contributor of 32 percent of solar and wind additions.