Utility-scale solar installations continue to expand rapidly, driven by supportive government policies, competitive tariffs, and growing demand for clean energy. A few states account for the majority of installed capacity, benefiting from abundant solar resources, availability of land, and robust transmission infrastructure, making them key contributors to the country’s utility-scale solar growth.

India added 21.7 GW of utility-scale solar in the first nine months (9M) of 2025, according to Mercom India Research.

The country’s cumulative utility-scale solar installations stood at 106.9 GW at the end of September 2025.

Here is a look at India’s top five states for utility-scale solar installations during 9M 2025.

Rajasthan took the top position, accounting for 35.1% of the country’s total installations in 9M 2025. Installations grew by 96.6% year-over-year (YoY).

The share of renewables in the state’s power mix capacity increased to 72% at the end of September 2025, of which solar contributed 59%.

Rajasthan’s solar capacity growth in 2025 was driven by supportive renewable energy policies and Green Energy Open Access Regulations, as well as major grid upgrades under the Western Rajasthan Green Energy Corridor.

India’s large-scale solar project pipeline was over 190 GW at the end of September 2025, and the largest share of these projects (~23%) was in Rajasthan.

Gujarat was the second leading state, contributing 24.9% to the country’s total large-scale solar installations in 9M 2025. Capacity additions grew by 9.2% YoY.

The share of renewables in the overall power capacity was 61.6% as of September 2025. Solar energy played a key role in this growth, with 38.1%.

The project mix shifted toward more complex wind-solar hybrid and storage-integrated systems, which required additional planning, infrastructure, and approvals, resulting in slower deployment than in earlier quarters for standalone solar projects.

Transmission bottlenecks and interstate grid congestion in Q3 2025 constrained power evacuation from newly commissioned projects, slowing capacity additions despite a robust project pipeline, dropping Gujarat from the top spot last year.

The state had the second-largest share (~18%) of large-scale solar projects in the pipeline.

Maharashtra was third, accounting for 17.7% of the country’s installations in 9M. The state’s large-scale solar installations rose 195.2% YoY.

The share of renewables in the state’s power mix was 48% as of September 2025, with 26% of it solar.

However, during the period, several projects faced grid connectivity challenges, primarily due to land acquisition issues. Increased demand for PM-KUSUM projects also pushed up land acquisition costs in the state, delaying project commissioning timelines.

Karnataka ranked fourth in the country, accounting for 9.6% of total installations in 9M 2025. The state’s utility-scale solar projects grew by 36.9% YoY.

The combined share of solar (36%) and wind (19%) took the renewables contribution to about 72%  in the power mix.

Of the utility-scale installations in 9M, 81% were under the open access mode. The rise in open access installations was supported by the state’s favorable policy environment, which allowed monthly energy banking with an 8% charge and enabled unutilized energy to be converted into renewable energy Certificates (RECs). These provisions have improved the financial viability of captive and REC-linked solar projects and streamlined project approvals.

Andhra Pradesh ranked fifth among states for installed utility-scale solar capacity, accounting for 4.5% of the country’s installations. Installations rose 112.9% YoY.

The share of renewables in the state’s power mix capacity was close to 52% at the end of September 2025, of which 24% was solar.

This surge was primarily driven by the commissioning of three large wind-solar hybrid projects with round-the-clock capabilities under Solar Energy Corporation of India’s renewable energy Peak Power Supply Projects (ISTS-VII) in the Kurnool district.

The state stands fourth in the country for projects in the pipeline.

A detailed analysis of state-wise installations, power profile, and installation pipeline can be found in Mercom’s India Solar Market Update Report.