India is on track for its biggest solar year ever. JMK Research projects 42.5 GW of new solar capacity will be installed in calendar year 2026 — a record that underscores the scale and speed of India's energy transition.
Breakdown of the 42.5 GW
| Segment | Capacity |
|---|---|
| Utility-scale solar | 32.5 GW |
| Rooftop solar | 8.5 GW |
| Off-grid solar | 1.5 GW |
| Total | 42.5 GW |
The Inverter Angle
Every GW of rooftop solar requires approximately 1 million inverters at the residential scale. The 8.5 GW rooftop projection alone implies 8–10 million new inverter installations in 2026 — making this the most important single year for India's inverter industry.
The 1.5 GW of off-grid solar directly targets rural India where power backup is most critical — driving demand for solar PCUs, hybrid inverters and battery storage systems.
PM Surya Ghar Is the Engine
The government's PM Surya Ghar scheme — targeting 10 million rooftop installations with subsidies up to ₹78,000 per household — is the primary driver of the rooftop numbers. Installers and dealers who are registered under the scheme are seeing order backlogs extend to 2–3 months in major states.
Source: JMK Research / PV Magazine India