India meets 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources five years early

India has hit a target for 50% of its installed electricity generating capacity to come from non-fossil fuel sources five years early, reported Reuters. The news wire said the announcement follows India’s renewable power output rising at its fastest pace since 2022 in the first half of 2025, while coal generation declined by nearly 3%. Fossil fuels still constitute over two-thirds of the increase in generation last year and India is planning to expand its coal-fired capacity by 80 gigawatts (GW) by 2032 to meet rising electricity demand, the outlet added. The report pointed out that India missed its 2022 renewable target of 175GW but has since “ramped up solar and wind additions” towards a goal of 500GW of non-fossil capacity by 2032. Renewable energy minister Pralhad Joshi tweeted: “In a world seeking climate solutions, India is showing the way”, reported TOI.

India’s overall non-fossil capacity has reached 242.8GW, out of a total of 484.8GW, PTI reported.

IRENA: Global renewable power capacity surged by 15% in 2024

Global renewable power capacity grew by 15% last year, according to the latest annual statistical report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), BusinessGreen reported. According to the outlet, this was “driven in large part by the rapid roll out of wind and solar projects across Asia, which have led to a widening of the gap between regions capitalising on the clean energy boom and those at risk of being left behind”.  The report showed the world added 582 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable electricity capacity in 2024, representing a record annual increase, the outlet added. 

India installed 341MWh battery storage capacity in 2024

India installed more than 34i MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) which is six times more than 51 MWh it had in 2023, Mercom reported. The total energy storage capacity is at 442MWh. Of this, only 4% is from stand-alone BESS, while 60% from solar plants integrated with battery storage and 36% from renewable energy integrated with round-the-clock capabilities. 

US: Trump executive order seeks end to wind and solar energy subsidies

Donald Trump signed an executive order telling federal agencies to “strengthen provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that repeal or modify tax credits for solar and wind energy projects”, reported Reuters. In an executive order, Trump said the renewable energy resources were unreliable, expensive, displaced more dependable energy sources, were dependent on foreign-controlled supply chains and were harmful to the natural environment and electric grid. 

The order directed the treasury department to enforce the phaseout of tax credits for wind and solar projects that were rolled back in the budget bill passed by Congress and signed into law by Trump last week. It also directed the Interior department to review and revise any policies that favour renewables over other energy sources. Both agencies are required to submit a report to the White House within 45 days detailing actions taken.” 

Bloomberg reported that the order “also calls for the implementation of restrictions on incentives for clean-energy projects that have ties to foreign entities of concern, including China”.

Saudi Arabia signs 5 solar PPAs totaling 12 GW

Saudi Arabia signed five solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) for a total capacity of 12 GW. The PPAs were signed between the Saudi Power Procurement Company and a consortium led by ACWA Power acting as the main developer, in partnership with the Water and Electricity Holding Company (Badeel) and Aramco Power, reported PV Magazine. 

The solar projects include the 3 GW Bisha project in the Aseer region at levelized cost of electricity at $0.0129/kWh. The five solar PPAs are rounded off by two 2 GW projects in the Riyadh region. A further two PPAs, covering two wind energy projects with a combined capacity of 3 GW, were also signed. The seven agreements represent the largest capacity globally signed for renewable energy projects in a single phase, the outlet reported.

Australia’s green hydrogen plan faces water shortage

Australia wants to be a massive hydrogen export industry under its National Hydrogen Strategy but no green hydrogen project has yet succeeded in Australia, reported PV magazine adding that water shortage is a major issue flying under the radar. Globally, just 7% of announced green hydrogen projects are up and running.

Hitting the 2050 target of 15 million to 30 million tonnes of hydrogen a year would use 7-15% of the amount of water Australia’s households, farms, mines and black coal power plants use annually. That’s simply not sustainable, the outlet said. 

The government hasn’t properly accounted for the water cost for green hydrogen. For every kilogram of hydrogen produced through electrolysis, nine litres of water are directly consumed, the report said adding that “the water needed to make hydrogen has to be extremely pure. Salt water has to be desalinated, and even fresh water needs purification. Equipment also needs cooling, which consumes even more water.”

“All these processes incur substantial indirect water losses, such as the water used for industrial processes and cooling. The volumes used are highly uncertain. They can be up to 20 times greater than the direct water use,” PV magazine report said.

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