India’s renewable energy landscape is entering a dynamic new phase as the country seeks to rapidly scale commercial and industrial (C&I) solar deployment beyond 2026. With growing corporate decarbonization commitments, evolving regulatory frameworks, and robust market demand, open-access solar and other off-site renewable solutions are poised to play a transformative role in meeting near- and medium-term climate and energy goals. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has projected that C&I renewable energy capacity could expand to 60–80 GW by 2030, underscoring the sector’s strategic significance.
The Rise of Open Access Solar in India
Open access solar refers to projects where electricity is supplied from renewable plants directly to commercial and industrial consumers without traditional distribution utility intermediaries. This model enables businesses to procure green power at competitive tariffs and intensifies corporate sustainability efforts.
From incremental beginnings, India’s open-access solar market has surged in recent years:
- In 2024, the country installed a record 6.9 GW of C&I offsite solar capacity, marking a 77 % year-on-year increase and pushing cumulative capacity to 20.2 GW.
- In the first nine months of 2025, India added 6.1 GW of open-access solar, nearly 13 % higher than the same period in 2024, bringing total installations to 27.9 GW by September 2025.
- These numbers demonstrate an accelerating deployment trajectory, driven by strong demand from factories, office complexes, data centres, and large retail establishments seeking long-term cost savings and reduction of Scope 2 emissions.
Why C&I Solar Is Set to Soar to 2030
Several key drivers are positioning C&I renewables for exponential growth to 65 – 80 GW by 2030:
1. Corporate Renewable Procurement
Major businesses, especially in manufacturing, IT services, and tech data centre operations, are transitioning to green energy as part of ambitious net-zero and sustainability pledges. Long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with solar developers offer price predictability and energy cost management critical in competitive markets.
2. Policy Momentum and Regulatory Support
Government initiatives such as renewable purchase obligations (RPOs), streamlined open access processes, and grid upgrade support are improving project economics and grid integration. Although challenges remain with grid connectivity approvals and transmission evacuation capacity in some regions, the policy direction is unequivocally supportive of open access growth.
3. Declining Solar Costs and Technology Advances
Solar photovoltaic (PV) module and system costs continue to decline globally and in India, making off-site solar affordable and reliable for businesses. Distributed generation technologies, combined with energy storage solutions, are enabling more resilient and dispatchable solar deployments.
4. Energy Security and Decarbonization Goals
As India accelerates its climate ambition under the Paris Agreement and as part of its net-zero by 2070 commitment, corporate consumption of renewable energy becomes a strategic lever for achieving both national and private sector decarbonization targets.
Challenges and Path Forward
Despite its growth, the open-access and C&I solar sector faces hurdles that could influence the pace of scale-up:
- Grid Infrastructure and Approvals: Delays in grid connectivity and limited transmission capacity in certain states can slow project commissioning.
- Financing and Investment: While solar project finance has improved, long-term investment requirements remain large, and access to low-cost capital is crucial to sustain growth beyond 2026.
- Regulatory Complexity: Open access entails navigating federal and state regulations, wheeling charges, and cross-state electricity transmission rules, all requiring greater harmonisation.
Economic and Environmental Impacts
Reaching 60–80 GW of C&I renewable capacity by 2030 would have profound impacts:
- Reduced Carbon Emissions: Massive displacement of fossil generation by renewables in the industrial and commercial sectors would significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- Energy Cost Savings: Businesses could realise stable, lower-cost power over the life of C&I solar contracts, boosting competitiveness.
- Job Creation: Manufacturing, installation, operations, and maintenance activities tied to large-scale solar will create jobs across the value chain.
Conclusion
As India transitions beyond 2026, open-access solar and C&I renewable energy deployments are set to be foundational pillars of the nation’s clean energy growth strategy. With cumulative open access solar nearing 30 GW by late 2025 and expectations of 65–80 GW C&I capacity by 2030, stakeholders, government, industries, and developers must continue to collaborate on policy clarity, infrastructure upgrades, and financing mechanisms to fully unlock this potential. India’s journey toward a carbon-neutral, energy-resilient industrial future is bright and solar technologies stand at its core.
