As the global focus shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, India stands at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution, particularly in solar power. With its abundant sunlight and diverse landscapes, the country has harnessed solar energy to make significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint and meeting growing energy demands. Various states across India are leading this charge, each contributing to the nation’s ambitious solar goals with unique advantages and innovative policies.
This article explores the top states excelling in solar capacity, highlighting their achievements, ongoing projects, and future ambitions. From the sun-soaked deserts of Rajasthan to the coastal plains of Andhra Pradesh, these regions are not only powering their economies but also setting a benchmark for sustainable energy practices worldwide. Let’s delve into the landscape of India’s solar power leadership and the factors that are driving this remarkable growth.
1. Rajasthan
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~29.5 GW
Rajasthan’s vast Thar Desert and high insolation (abundant sunlight) make it ideal for solar power. The state has leveraged its scorching climate and open land to achieve nearly 30 GW of solar capacity, the highest in India. Rajasthan set an ambitious target of 30 GW by 2024-25, which it has essentially reached, reflecting its 142 GW assessed solar potential. It is home to the Bhadla Solar Park in Jodhpur – one of the world’s largest solar farms, with a capacity of 2,245 MW. With strong policy support and large projects like Bhadla, Rajasthan leads India’s solar revolution. (For context, Rajasthan alone accounts for roughly one-fourth of India’s solar capacity.)
2. Gujarat
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~20.1 GW
Gujarat has the second-highest installed solar capacity in the country. The state’s hot, dry climate and vast Kutch desert provide excellent conditions for solar power. Gujarat has over 20 GW of solar projects installed and is known for pioneering solar parks and rooftop solar adoption. Notably, the state is building the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park in the Rann of Kutch, with a planned capacity of 30 GW (a mix of solar and wind). Gujarat’s government aims to achieve 100 GW of solar energy by 2030, signaling an ambitious expansion. Strong grid infrastructure, pro-investment policies, and initiatives like canal-top solar panels have made Gujarat a leader in both utility-scale and distributed solar power.
3. Maharashtra
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~11.8 GW
Maharashtra has rapidly expanded its solar generation capacity in recent years, reaching nearly 12 GW. With 250–300 sunny days a year and ample land available, Maharashtra has capitalized on open-access solar projects and large-scale installations. By early 2025, it had about 9.9 GW installed and continues to grow. The state government supports solar expansion through programs like the Mukhyamantri Saur Krishi Vahini Yojana, which aims to solarize agricultural feeders (targeting 30% feeder solarization by 2025). Maharashtra’s policy push for renewable energy, along with its robust transmission network, has enabled it to become a top solar-producing state. (It also complements its solar growth with significant wind and biomass capacities, making it a renewable energy hub.)
4. Tamil Nadu
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~10.4 GW
Tamil Nadu, with its tropical climate and high solar insolation, has about 10.4 GW of solar capacity installed. The state’s sunny plains (and even arid lands in the south) offer great potential for solar farms. Tamil Nadu is aggressively expanding its renewable portfolio – it ranks 4th in solar and also has India’s second-highest wind capacity, leveraging strong winds and sun together. The state government plans to develop 20,000 MW of new solar capacity by 2030, including many district-level solar parks. Policies are in place to encourage solar rooftop installations, provide incentives and rebates, and even establish a research fund for solar energy innovations. With over 9 GW already online and clear expansion roadmaps, Tamil Nadu is on track to remain a leading solar state in the coming decade.
5. Karnataka
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~9.9 GW
Karnataka was an early leader in India’s solar story and currently has approximately 9.9 GW of installed capacity. Benefiting from year-round sunshine on the Deccan Plateau, Karnataka was the first state to cross 5 GW solar capacity a few years ago. It hosts the Pavagada Solar Park (also known as Shakti Sthala) in Tumakuru district – a 2,000 MW solar park spread over 13,000 acres, which is one of Asia’s largest solar installations. Thanks to projects like Pavagada, Karnataka has been among the top solar producers (it was once #1). The state also has substantial rooftop solar potential – an analysis found Bengaluru alone could generate up to 3.2 GW from rooftop PV. With multiple large parks (planned in Koppal, Bidar, Gadag, etc.) and supportive policies, Karnataka continues to be in the top tier of solar states. Its focus now includes integrating solar with storage and improving grid infrastructure to handle its growing renewable output.
6. Andhra Pradesh
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~5.43 GW
Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a major hub for renewable energy, with ~5.4 GW of solar capacity installed. The state enjoys a hot and humid climate with almost 300 sunny days a year, providing ideal conditions for solar generation. Andhra Pradesh’s government has set an immediate target of 5,000 MW of new solar capacity in the next five years, focusing on building large solar parks with proper infrastructure to meet rising power demand sustainably. In fact, Andhra has offered several ultra-mega solar park projects (totaling ~12 GW) to developers for exporting power. The state is also encouraging local manufacturing of solar equipment (panels, batteries) to create jobs. With its strong DISCOMs (power distribution companies) and policy support, Andhra Pradesh is quickly climbing the ranks. Notably, it is also among the top states for solar energy generation, contributing significantly to India’s annual solar output.
7. Madhya Pradesh
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~5.27 GW
Madhya Pradesh has made significant progress in solar energy, reaching ~5.3 GW installed capacity. The state’s central location and large tracts of land (often semi-arid) are conducive for solar parks. In 2019, Madhya Pradesh was officially designated a “Solar State,” and its capital, Bhopal, was designated a “Solar City,” underscoring the government’s commitment to this sector. One of India’s landmark projects – the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Park (750 MW) – is located in MP; inaugurated in 2020, it was among Asia’s largest single-site solar plants at the time. The state has also attracted praise (e.g., from the World Bank) for innovative solar utilization in industries. Looking ahead, Madhya Pradesh plans to invest heavily in renewables (around ₹50,000 crore by 2027) to boost capacity further. With ample sunshine and supportive policies, MP is steadily cementing its place in India’s top 10 solar states.
8. Telangana
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~4.84 GW (4,842.1 MW as of May 2025)
Telangana, located in southern India, has harnessed approximately 4.8 GW of solar power to date. The state experiences high solar insolation (~5.5 kWh/m²) and over 300 sunny days per year, providing it with a significant natural advantage. Telangana’s solar sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by its predominantly hot, semi-arid climate and proactive state policies. A standout achievement is India’s largest floating solar plant located in Telangana – a 100 MW solar array spanning 500 acres on water. Such innovative projects demonstrate the state’s commitment to utilizing available space for renewables. The Telangana government is also promoting solar adoption across various sectors, including industries, agriculture, and residential users. It plans to add another 3 GW of solar capacity in the next five years. By leveraging both land-based and floating solar projects, Telangana continues to expand its solar footprint and make a significant contribution to the region’s clean energy output.
9. Uttar Pradesh
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~3.38 GW (3,376.7 MW as of May 2025)
Uttar Pradesh (UP) has around 3.4 GW of installed solar capacity. As India’s most populous state, UP has enormous electricity needs and a high potential for solar energy, given its high insolation levels. However, its solar capacity growth has been somewhat slower compared to leading states. The state government is now pushing hard to change that via the UP Solar Energy Policy 2022, aligning with India’s ambitious renewable goals. This policy lays out plans to rapidly scale up solar installations. By 2027, Uttar Pradesh aims to establish 22,000 MW of new solar projects, including about 14,000 MW from large utility-scale solar parks. The plan also includes making Ayodhya a model “solar city.” These initiatives, along with incentives for rooftop and utility solar, are expected to boost UP’s solar profile significantly. With its huge electricity demand, any progress in solar energy in UP can greatly aid India’s overall clean energy transition.
10. Haryana
- Installed Solar Capacity: ~2.11 GW
Haryana closes out the top 10 with about 2.1 GW of solar capacity. Despite its relatively smaller area, Haryana enjoys around 320 sunny days a year, giving it substantial solar potential. The state has focused on rooftop solar and decentralized installations, partly because it has less vacant land for giant solar farms. The Haryana Solar Power Policy 2021 aggressively promotes rooftop solar in the residential, commercial, and industrial segments. One key objective is to boost solar use in agriculture (e.g., solar water pumps) and to solarize EV charging infrastructure. Haryana’s goal is to reach 6,000 MW (6 GW) of solar by 2030, which would be a 22-fold increase from its base when the policy was enacted. To achieve this, the state is providing various incentives for solar adoption. While currently #10, Haryana’s emphasis on rooftop and policy-driven growth could accelerate its solar capacity in the coming years.