India’s Clean Energy Transition: A Review of Renewable Energy Contributions
Geetesh Kumar *
Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry and Research Station, MGUVV, Sankara, Patan, Durg, India.
Ayushi Trivedi
Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry and Research Station, MGUVV, Sankara, Patan, Durg, India.
Leman Kumar
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Parul Institute of Pharmacy & Research, PU, Limda, Vadodara, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
India's clean energy transition has gained increasing importance in response to rising energy demand, dependence on fossil fuels, and climate change concerns. This review examines the contribution of renewable energy sources to India's energy sector, with attention to solar, wind, small hydropower, biomass, and waste-to-energy systems, as well as policy measures that have supported their expansion. The manuscript summarises installed renewable capacity as reported on 28 February 2025, when total capacity, excluding large hydro, was 167,709.53 MW. Solar power represented the largest component, at 102,566.02 MW, followed by wind power at 48,588.56 MW, biomass-based cogeneration at 10,743.11 MW, small hydropower at 5,100.55 MW, waste to power at 309.34 MW, and off-grid waste-to-energy at 401.95 MW. The review also discusses India's broader renewable energy position, including the reported 214.68 GW of renewable capacity by February 2025 when hydropower is included. Government initiatives, including the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the National Solar Mission, renewable purchase obligations, rooftop solar support, and recent transmission-related incentives, have contributed to capacity growth and investment. At the same time, the review indicates that installed capacity alone does not resolve challenges related to generation reliability, intermittency, land use, ecosystem disturbance, waste management, grid integration, and policy implementation. The environmental discussion shows that renewable technologies reduce dependence on conventional fossil fuels but retain local and life-cycle impacts that require careful assessment. The review concludes that renewable energy is central to India's clean energy pathway, provided that technological innovation, institutional capacity, environmental safeguards, and investment support are strengthened.
Keywords: Renewable energy, clean energy transition, solar power, wind energy, biomass energy, small hydropower, energy policy, sustainability, grid integration, energy security