India installs 3.8 GW solar open-access capacity in Jan-June: Report
India’s solar power sector is booming, with the country adding a massive 3.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar open access capacity in the first half of 2025. That’s a big jump, and in the second quarter alone, developers installed 2.7 GW, according to a fresh report from Mercom.
Maharashtra led the charge in Q2 2025 solar open access additions, accounting for more than 30 percent of the total. This surge shows how states like Maharashtra are pushing hard for renewable energy growth.
Looking back, the first half of 2024 saw even higher installations as developers rushed to finish projects before new rules on approved solar models kicked in. Things slowed a bit in early 2025, but Q2 bounced back strong. Why? Developers hurried to commission solar projects before the June deadline for ISTS charges waiver. Many even went for partial commissioning to grab those benefits and keep costs down.
By June 2025, India’s total solar open access capacity hit 24.6 GW—a milestone for clean energy in India. Karnataka tops the list with about 24 percent of this capacity, followed by Maharashtra at 18 percent and Tamil Nadu at 12 percent. Plus, there’s over 31 GW of solar open access projects in the pipeline, either under development or pre-construction, signaling even more growth ahead for solar energy in India.
Shifting to rooftops, India added 2.8 GW of rooftop solar capacity in the first half of 2025, marking a whopping 158 percent increase from 1.1 GW in the same period last year. In Q2 2025, the addition reached 1.6 GW, up 33 percent from Q1 and 121 percent from Q2 2024. This rooftop solar boom in India got a boost from clearing backlogged registrations, launching new systems, and upgrades to the PM Surya Ghar portal, making it easier for everyone to go solar.
In Q2, residential users drove most of the action, making up over 74 percent of rooftop solar installations, while the industrial sector followed with more than 19 percent. As of June 2025, the country’s cumulative rooftop solar capacity stands at 16.5 GW. Leading the pack are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh—states setting the pace for rooftop solar adoption across India.
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