Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s rapid expansion in renewable energy has pushed it to the No. 1 spot nationally. With 47,178MW installed capacity, the state has overtaken Rajasthan by a slim margin, according to data from the Union ministry of new and renewable energy. The state added significant capacity over the past year to edge ahead of Rajasthan. Solar and wind remain the backbone of its energy mix. The state moved ahead of Rajasthan, which stood second with 47,020MW. Gujarat, which was ranked second in 2024-25, added around 13,785MW of new renewable capacity over the past year to take the lead by March 31 this year.The MNRE data showed Gujarat’s renewable energy mix includes 29,303MW of solar power, 15,642MW of wind power, 1,990MW of large hydro, 113MW of small hydro and 130MW of bio-power capacity.Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) managing director Shalini Agarwal said the ranking marked a major milestone for the state’s energy sector. “For the first time, Gujarat has secured the No. 1 position in total renewable energy capacity in the country. India has set a target of 500GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, while Gujarat has set its own target of 100GW by 2030. By the end of FY26, Gujarat had already reached 47GW of installed renewable energy capacity, and with the projects in the pipeline, we are confident of meeting that goal,” Agarwal said.She added that renewable energy has helped cushion global shocks. “The conflict in the Middle East has had a serious impact on the energy sector worldwide, but Gujarat’s renewable energy base has provided resilience. We are now also giving strong attention to battery energy storage systems,” she said.Despite Gujarat’s overall lead, Rajasthan continues to dominate in solar power alone, with 41,012MW of solar capacity — the highest in the country.Gujarat has also retained its leadership in rooftop solar. Under rooftop installations, including the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, the state has reached 6,881MW capacity, the highest in the country.Industry representatives said Gujarat’s rise was driven by sustained investment and a strong support ecosystem.Kunj Shah, chairman of the energy committee of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), said the state had built momentum over several years. “The state has built momentum over the past five years, especially in solar energy. A robust support system — from manufacturing to skilled manpower — has enabled faster expansion,” Shah said.The latest data highlights Gujarat’s growing role in India’s clean energy transition as states race to scale up renewable capacity and meet ambitious 2030 targets.
