Why India’s renewable energy roadmap is centered squarely on solar

As the energy sector of India is rallying towards a clean and resilient future, solar power is not just a smart choice but the most effective source to catalyse developmental activities in both urban and rural parts of the country without increasing carbon footprints.

However, to tap this natural resource more efficiently, there is a pressing need to modernise the current grid system, as panels alone cannot produce the desired outcome.

Solar leading the clean energy charge

With installed solar capacity surpassing 100 GW as of February 2025 and aiming to reach 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030—with approximately 300 GW expected from solar—it is clear this sector forms the backbone of the transition.

SolarQuarter reports this boom is driven by falling costs, strong private investment, and supportive government schemes like PM-KUSUM and the rooftop Surya Ghar Yojana, which seek to empower homes and farmers with clean power.

Grid modernisation

Deploying solar at scale means grappling with intermittency and distributed generation. Thus, upgraded transmission corridors, intelligent grids, and energy storage are essential.

Global consulting firm Deloitte flags a global grid investment gap of US$14 trillion by 2050 and notes grid build-out runs 3–7 times slower than renewable energy, creating a bottleneck.

Industry experts emphasise the deployment of smart substations, high-capacity HVDC lines, and energy storage systems to manage the solar sector’s unique challenges.

Budget, planning & policy

India’s 2025 budget allocated over ₹26,500 crore to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and backed large-scale investment in green corridors and energy storage that are the critical enablers for solar integration.

Analysts also spotlight schemes like GEC II (₹12,000 crore) for transmission upgrades and call for synchronized power planning to avoid congestion and boost reliability. The National Electricity Transmission Plan outlines pathways to achieve 600 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, further emphasising the infrastructure alignment.

Embedding solar into the grid

Solar is not merely feeding power and it is transforming the grid. Rooftop systems, EVs, distributed energy, and microgrids are injecting solar-generated electrons across the network. Deloitte's report conveys that DERs like solar, EVs, and smart meters are key to handling rising peak demand and accelerating decarbonisation. Several studies highlight the deployment of smart grids, digital substations, and battery systems that capture and deploy solar power when needed.

Challenges and the road ahead

Some hurdles like the acquisition of land for large-scale solar projects, limited finances, and the lagging pace of grid expansion, are said to be the very factors slowing down momentum.

To genuinely succeed in its energy transition objectives, India needs to put in one integrated approach that means focusing on scaling transmission and distribution infrastructure by fast-tracking HVDC lines, expanding green corridors under GEC II, and upgrading distribution networks.

At the same time, accelerating the uptake of intelligent grid technologies through the mass roll-out of smart meters, advanced sensors, AI-based grid controls, and DER management platforms must find the appropriate place in all strategies. Equally important is helping to align financing and policy frameworks, including mobilising private capital, extending targeted incentives for solar-plus-storage applications, and providing increased regulatory certainty. India should also push for decentralised energy systems, including rooftop solar, EV-grid interaction mechanisms, as well as microgrids, and hybrid renewable solutions in both urban and rural areas.

If solar is the national energy's beating heart, then the grid is its circulatory system. True national energy planning integrates both power generation and distribution as a seamless unit. India's clear solar ambition, backed by fiscal and policy momentum, positions it well. But without grid modernisation, the cranes, cables, switches, and digital equipment remain partially realised.

Hence, in defining its clean energy future, India must not relegate solar to the sidelines of planning. Instead, it should anchor its energy strategy in solar with modern, intelligent, and resilient grids as the power platform.

Gautam Mohanka is the CEO of Gautam Solar

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK

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