Cumulative utility-scale solar installations in India at the end of December 2021 stood at 41.5 GW, according to Mercom India Research.

Here is a look at the top five markets for utility-scale solar installations:

Rajasthan was the top state for utility-scale solar projects with a cumulative installed capacity of 8.9 GW as of December 2021. This represents about 22% of the country’s total installed solar power capacity.  Rajasthan overtook Karnataka at the end of Q3 2021. Upcoming projects in Rajasthan could face delays in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the need to protect the endangered Great Indian Bustard, whose habitat lies in some of the project areas. The state also houses the world’s largest Bhadla Solar Park.

Karnataka came in second for large-scale solar projects with a total installed capacity of 7.5 GW at the end of 2021. This amounts to about 18% of the country’s total installed solar power capacity. The state reissued the ‘Draft Karnataka Renewable Energy Policy 2021-2026’ to develop 10 GW of renewable energy projects with and without energy storage.

With a cumulative installed utility-scale solar project capacity of 4.3 GW, Andhra Pradesh is the third-largest state for solar as of December 2021. This makes up for over 10% of the country’s total installed solar power capacity.  In November this year, distribution companies in Andhra Pradesh received regulatory approval to procure 7,000 MW of solar power from the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

In fourth place is Tamil Nadu with an aggregate installed utility-scale solar capacity of 4 GW accounting for close to 10% of the country’s total installed solar power capacity. The state aims to install 8,971 MW by 2022. The state had issued draft amendments to the Tamil Nadu Electricity (Grid Connectivity and Intrastate Open Access) Regulations 2014 to determine the order of priority for purchasing power from various sources under open access. The state will develop a 4 GW solar park with battery energy storage systems.

Gujarat was the fifth-largest state for utility-scale solar projects with a total installed capacity of 3.9 GW, amounting to 9% of the country’s total installed solar power capacity. The state invited bids from project consultants to develop a 2,375 MW solar, wind, and hybrid renewable energy park at the Great Rann of Kutch area in Gujarat.