Solar Boom or Solar Hype? India’s Big Green Push Faces Ground Reality

India’s solar growth is real and impressive, but big installed capacity numbers do not tell the full story. Official reports highlight that solar capacity has crossed 162 GW and has grown many times since 2014. But capacity is only the maximum possible power. Actual electricity generation is much lower because solar panels work mainly during sunlight hours. So, while solar has become a large part of installed power capacity, it still contributes only around 9.4% of India’s actual electricity generation, while coal continues to supply more than 70% of the country’s power.

This is the main “GW trap”. Adding more solar panels does not automatically mean coal is replaced. India still needs strong battery storage, better transmission lines and a modern grid to use solar power properly, especially during evening peak hours when sunlight is not available.

Rooftop solar under PM Surya Ghar has also created huge interest, but ground-level progress is slower than registration numbers suggest. Many people register, but fewer complete installation because of delays in approvals, net-metering, subsidy processing and vendor coordination. DISCOMs also create hurdles in some places because rooftop solar reduces their income from paying consumers. In some states, free or subsidised electricity schemes reduce public interest, as families do not want to spend ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh upfront when grid power is already cheap or free. Billing mistakes after installation have also made some consumers worried.

PM-KUSUM has shown mixed results for farmers. Standalone solar pumps have worked well because they help farmers reduce diesel costs and dependence on unreliable electricity. But the plan to set up small solar plants on farmland has failed to meet targets. Many small farmers cannot get bank loans easily, and low tariffs offered by DISCOMs make these projects financially unattractive.

Large solar parks face another serious problem: transmission delay. Solar plants can be built quickly, but power lines take years. Because of this, solar power from states like Rajasthan cannot always reach industrial and urban demand centres. Sometimes power is wasted because the grid cannot carry it. DISCOM payment delays and slow power purchase agreements also create financial stress for solar companies.

Floating solar is promising but not easy. It costs 20% to 30% more than land solar and faces problems like changing water levels, corrosion, underwater cable damage, maintenance issues and possible impact on water bodies.