New Delhi- The capacity of India's renewable energy sector has increased by 165% in the last 10 years, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Tuesday.

Installed renewable energy capacity rose to 203.1 gigawatts (GW) in 2024 from 76.38 GW in 2014, Joshi said in a statement.

"India now ranks fourth globally in renewable energy capacity, with significant advancements in solar and wind power," he said.

He said solar energy capacity has expanded from 2.82 GW in March 2014 to 85.47 GW by June 2024, which is an increase of nearly 30 times.

"Renewable energy is no longer a choice for India but a necessity for the nation's sustainable growth and development," Joshi said.

He said the country is committed to reaching 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, as per the target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the COP26 summit.

The share of thermal sources in the total installed capacity has come down from 67.69% in 2013-14 to 54.46% in 2024-25 (up to June 2024), while the share of non-fossil fuel in the total installed capacity has increased from 32.30% to 45.54%, Joshi said.