Andhra Pradesh emerges as leader of India’s rooftop solar push: Union Minister

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi share a lighthearted moment during the valedictory session of the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on Friday. | Photo credit: V. RAJU

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said that India has made remarkable progress in ensuring energy security, with Andhra Pradesh playing a significant role through rooftop solar installations and solar farm pump sets.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi was addressing the function of the 31st CII Summit in Visakhapatnam on Friday. | Photo credit: V. RAJU

Speaking at the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 on ‘Securing a Sustainable Future: Energy Resilience, Clean Technologies and Global Partnerships’, he said the country’s peak power demand has grown from 123 GW in 2012 to 270 GW. Recalling the 2012 grid collapse that plunged northern India into darkness for nearly 72 hours, he said the country was now meeting increased demand without interruption, with nearly 33% of power coming from non-fossil fuels.

India’s solar capacity has increased from 2.80 GW in 2014 to 175 GW, he said, adding that non-fossil sources now account for nearly 55% of the country’s total installed power generation capacity. India was on track to achieve its target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

Mr. Joshi said that Andhra Pradesh has enabled 7.86 million households to install rooftop solar systems. Under the Prime Minister’s leadership, Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana benefited 66 thousand households across the country against a target of one crore.

Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “zero defect, zero effect” manufacturing, he said green energy will help India become a global hub for green manufacturing.

Published – 13 Nov 2026 19:12 IST