Land scarcity a hurdle in achieving solar energy goals, says Union minister Pralhad Joshi

Gurgaon: Union minister for renewable energy Pralhad Joshi said availability of land has emerged as a major challenge for augmentation of solar energy infrastruture and asked National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) to work on technology that can generate maximum energy in less space. The minister was in the city to inaugurate a testing lab for solar panels at NISE in Gwalpahari on Tuesday.
Highlighting exponential growth, the minister said that the country's installed solar energy capacity increased from 2.82 GW in 2014 to 106 GW in 2025, marking a growth of over 3700%. The installed capacity is expected to increase to 300 GW by 2030, he said, outlining the achievement of 50 GW in wind energy capacity.
At the inauguration event, Joshi said, "The new lab will set global benchmarks in solar R&D, testing, training, and policy support while marking a bold step towards self-reliance, innovation, and global excellence."
Joshi also stated that NISE is now equipped to offer comprehensive testing, calibration, and certification services, particularly for photovoltaic modules and technologies where no established standards currently exist. He termed the lab a pioneering facility for India and further highlighted that as Indian companies scale up the production of large modules, this lab will ensure that products meet the highest quality standards. Joshi noted that the lab also aligns with BIS standards and will provide a major boost to the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and support India's aspiration to become a global manufacturing hub.
Speaking to the media after the inauguration, Joshi said India is firmly on track to achieve the 500 GW non-fossil fuel energy target by 2030, including 292 GW of solar energy. The minister said that NISE should reflect the transformation India's renewable energy sector has seen in the last 11 years.