India surpasses Germany to claim third spot in global wind, solar energy production

India has officially become the third-largest producer of electricity generated from wind and solar energy, surpassing Germany in 2024, according to a new report from Ember global energy think tank.

The report highlights that India's wind and solar generation capacity has nearly doubled in the five years leading up to 2024, increasing from 110 terawatt-hours (TWh) to 215 TWh, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

This significant growth has propelled India ahead of Germany, securing its position as a global leader in renewable energy production. 

Ember analysts also pointed out that renewable energy sources accounted for 22 per cent of India’s total electricity generation in 2024. Of this, hydropower made the largest contribution at 8 per cent, while wind and solar energy together accounted for 10 per cent of the country’s overall energy mix.

“Solar energy has become the driving force behind the global energy transition. Combined with battery storage, solar power is set to become an unstoppable force. As the fastest-growing and largest source of new electricity, it plays a critical role in meeting the world’s ever-growing demand for energy,” Ember Managing Director Phil Macdonald said. India's rapid strides in renewable energy align with its ambitious climate commitments. 

Under the country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2022, India has pledged to achieve 50 per cent of its total installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.

In 2021, India also announced its ambitious goal of reaching 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity by 2030. While this target was not officially included in the country's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), it remains a key guiding benchmark in India’s national energy planning documents.

By Naila Huseynova