India’s power sector is currently undergoing a renewable revolution. Installed capacity is expected to jump from 305 gigawatts (GW) installed in 2015/16 to a phenomenal 476 GW come June 2025! This increasing demand for energy, coupled with supportive policy environments for both conventional and renewable energy, are catalyzing this tremendous growth. It starkly illustrates the country’s intention to advance more sustainable energy development.
In a significant development, ACEN and UPC Renewables have announced plans for two major renewable energy projects in India: a 420 megawatt (MW) solar farm located in Rajasthan and a 120 MW wind farm situated in Karnataka. These projects combined will produce 1,158 GWh of clean electricity annually. This clean energy will power close to 241,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 876,000 tons per year.
Details of the Renewable Energy Projects
The solar farm in Rajasthan will be constructed in the districts of Barmer. This region is known for having some of the best sunlight and irradiation levels in the world. Currently under construction, this facility is expected to generate approximately 767 gigawatt hours of renewable energy each year. The Karnataka wind farm will take advantage of powerful monsoon winds and a very hilly, favorable terrain. Due to these efforts, it’s projected to produce approximately 391 GWh of renewable electricity each year. Completion of both projects is expected by early 2027.
These initiatives are helping India achieve its renewable energy targets and are important for job creation. During the construction phase, the shaped-up projects are projected to create an estimated 1,500 temporary green jobs. The timing couldn’t be better for India’s rapidly-expanding electricity generation. It’s skyrocketed from 1,168 billion units (BU) to an estimated 1,824 BU in FY 2024/25.
Impact on India’s Power Sector
India’s power sector is in the middle of an aggressive expansion on all fronts. This expansion has made their power shortages almost a thing of the past, going from 4.2% in 2013/14 to a mere 0.1% in 2024/25. In addition, this expansion has brought electricity access to more than 20 million households in the process. That blend of clean energy leadership and ambitious policy making has only further solidified our country’s renewable energy momentum.
Patrice Clausse, ACEN International CEO and group chief investment officer, stated, “Our enduring partnership with UPC Renewables has been instrumental in enabling disciplined capital deployment across high-potential markets like India.”
Brian Caffyn, UPC Renewables chairman and group CEO, added that the upcoming projects further cement their relationship with ACEN: “Following the successful deployment of 630 MWp of solar capacity in India, this next phase further strengthens our trusted partnership with ACEN and the excellent team in India driving this vision forward.”
Future Outlook
As India works to expand its renewable energy infrastructure, these projects are an important milestone in the country’s mission to establish sustainable development goals. This smart strategic focus on both solar and wind energy tracks with where the entire globe is heading in terms of transitioning to cleaner energy sources. With continued investments, transparency and collaborative partnerships, India is set to become a global leader on renewable energy production.
