Gurugram: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the Centre is holding talks with states for the signing of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for 40 GW of Renewable Energy (RE) capacity. “As of today, around 40 GW RE capacity is pending signing of PPAs. So, we are talking to states on this. We can add 40 GW in FY26. Many projects are ready here. Some constraints are there, but we are confident,” the minister said.
The minister inaugurated the PV Module Testing and Calibration Lab at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), Gwal Pahari, Bandhwari, Haryana, on Tuesday. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event.
India needs to create innovative solutions to maximise solar energy generation from available land resources, said Joshi. “We are targeting 50 GW of RE capacity annually to meet the 500 GW target by 2030 , which of course includes 292 GW of solar energy,” said the minister. India added 29.52 GW RE capacity in 2024-25.
“Back in March 2014, our installed solar capacity was just 2.82 GW. Today, we have crossed 106 GW, which is a growth of over 3,700 per cent. We had just 2 GW of solar module production in 2014. Today, we have soared to 80 GW. And by 2030, we are confident to reach 150 GW,” he said. He added that India’s peak power demand will double in 2032 from the present levels. The peak power demand touched an all-time high of 250 GW in May 2024 and estimates (by the Central Electricity Authority) have projected a peak of 270 GW during summer this year.
Referring to the sola PV module testing lab, Joshi said that NISE is now empowered to offer comprehensive testing, calibration, and certification services, especially for photovoltaic modules and technologies where no established standards currently exist. “That makes this a pioneering facility in India,” he said.
As Indian companies scale up production of large modules, this facility will ensure that Indian products meet the highest standards, he noted. He pointed out that this lab will give a major boost to India’s PLI scheme, and to the country’s ambition of becoming a global manufacturing hub.
He stated that NISE must strive to become a global institution of excellence. Its work should reflect the ambition, innovation, and resilience of New India. “We want NISE to become a benchmark in solar R&D, testing, training, and policy support. In fact, I believe NISE should aspire to surpass even the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Germany,” said Joshi.
Today, he noted that NISE lags behind in global research impact and patent generation. “I urge you to step up efforts in this direction. This journey demands deep research, cutting-edge innovation, and global collaboration. So I say to NISE: Build partnerships. Develop talent. Push boundaries. Let your work echo across labs, factories, and solar farms worldwide,” said the minister. Joshi noted that NISE is already working on new-age solar technologies like: Perovskite Solar Cells (High-efficiency, low-cost solar cells with flexible applications) and Bifacial Solar Panels (Capture sunlight on both sides to increase energy generation).
Going forward, he suggested that it should also undertake initiative for mass adoption of initiatives like AI for Solar Power Forecasting - It will help optimise solar energy production and grid integration through AI. About the Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), he stated that he has been reading how other countries are integrating solar cells into building materials for energy-efficient urban structures. He suggested that NISE can help India enhance its scale and scope.
