India added a record 55 GW of non-fossil power capacity in the year to March 2026 and is building toward 500 GW by 2030, alongside a national programme to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen a year. For foreign makers of electrolysers, storage, grid equipment and clean-energy engineering, it is one of the largest open markets in the world, and one of the most rule-bound.
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- 300 GWnon-fossil power capacity installed31 Jul 2026 · energetica-india.net
- 55 GWnon-fossil capacity added in FY2025-26, a recordMar 2026 · enerdata.net
- ₹19,744 crNational Green Hydrogen Mission outlayJan 2023 · mercomindia.com
- ₹9.15 lakh crtransmission investment planned to 2032Oct 2024 · businesstoday.in
Where the money is going
Renewables at record pace
Solar capacity passed 171 GW and wind 59 GW by September 2026, with about 45 GW of solar added in FY2025-26 alone. Capacity is tendered by central agencies (SECI, NTPC, NHPC, SJVN) through reverse auctions, and by state utilities.
Sources: energetica-india.net tribuneindia.com
Green hydrogen and ammonia
The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets 5 million tonnes a year by 2030, with 60–100 GW of electrolysers. By March 2026 the government had awarded incentives for about 3,000 MW a year of electrolyser manufacturing and 862,000 tonnes a year of green hydrogen production. SECI’s 2025 green ammonia auctions contracted 724,000 tonnes a year over 10 years, and three ports (Kandla, Tuticorin and Paradip) are recognised as hydrogen hubs.
Sources: theweek.in renewablewatch.in
Storage
The government is funding 30 GWh of battery storage with ₹5,400 crore of viability gap funding, and plans about 100 GW of pumped storage by 2035-36, with 12 GW under construction.
Sources: pv-magazine-india.com powerline.net.in
Transmission
The national plan calls for more than ₹9 lakh crore of transmission investment and 190,000 circuit-km of new lines by 2032, including HVDC links such as the Ladakh Green Energy Corridor.
Sources: businesstoday.in powermin.gov.in
The rules foreign firms must meet
These decide whether you can bid at all, and in what role. Check each tender’s own terms before committing.
- Foreign direct investment of up to 100% is allowed in renewable energy under the automatic route.
- Solar projects for government, auctioned and many private uses must use modules and, since June 2026, cells from India’s Approved List of Models and Manufacturers. Ingots and wafers follow from 2028.
- Imported solar cells and modules carry basic customs duty plus an agriculture infrastructure cess, and production-linked incentives favour local factories.
- Public buyers give purchase preference to suppliers with at least 50% local content (Class I) under the Make in India procurement order.
- A hydrogen counts as green in India only below 2 kg of CO2-equivalent per kg of hydrogen, measured well to gate, certified under the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
Where foreign firms fit
Electrolyser and hydrogen technology
Licensing or joint manufacturing with an Indian partner usually beats importing: incentives and procurement preference go to local factories. Ohmium (US) built PEM electrolyser factories near Bengaluru; John Cockerill (Belgium) formed a 2 GW factory joint venture with Greenko.
Storage systems and integration
Battery, power-conversion and control suppliers can sell into viability-gap-funded tenders through Indian developers and EPC firms; tariffs are tight, so bankable terms matter.
Grid and HVDC equipment
Transmission build-out needs transformers, HVDC, substations and grid software, often through Indian EPC contractors or public sector buyers.
Capital and platforms
Foreign investors typically enter through stakes in Indian developers or joint platforms. TotalEnergies holds a stake in Adani Green and a 1,050 MW joint venture; Engie runs about 2 GW in India.
Sources: pv-magazine.com saurenergy.com esgtoday.com en.newsroom.engie.com
What to watch
Delivery is uneven. In mid-2025 about 44 GW of awarded renewable capacity still had no state buyer signed, and some incentive schemes have been slow to pay out. We help you pick buyers and contracts with real payment security.
Source: psuwatch.com
Where to go next
- India market entryChoose the states, buyers and contracts worth your time
- Partner search and joint venturesFind and vet the Indian partner you will bid with
- Approvals and liaisonCompany set-up, registrations and tender eligibility
Talk to us about this sector
Tell us what you make or build and which part of this market you are looking at. A partner replies within one working day.
Prefer email? info@ubrinfra.com · +91 22 2492 7671 · Mumbai, India (UTC+5:30)
Figures checked 28 October 2026.
