What India Can Learn from China’s 1 TW Solar Milestone?
In May 2025, China crossed a historic energy milestone – 1 terawatt (TW) of installed solar power capacity. With over 92 GW added in a single month, it now leads the global solar landscape by a massive margin, showcasing not just ambition but also long-term planning at scale.
This isn’t just a headline figure. It represents a profound shift in how countries can rewire their energy systems through industrial policy, infrastructure planning, and aggressive deployment.
As India is home to an abundance of solar potential, China’s pace offers valuable lessons.
How Big Is 1 TW – And Why Does It Matter?
To put it into context, 1 TW equals 1,000 GW – nearly ten times India’s current installed solar capacity, which stands around 110 GW (as of mid-2025).
While India has added close to 8 GW in Q1 2025, the gap with China is not just in numbers but in ecosystem readiness. China’s growth wasn’t accidental, it was enabled by government-industry coordination, investment in solar manufacturing, and a robust project execution framework.
What Enabled China’s Rapid Solar Scale-Up?
Several factors converged to make this possible:
- Massive investment in solar manufacturing hubs: China’s dominance in PV production—across wafers, cells, and modules – created cost advantages and supply chain resilience.
- National policies focused on industrial scale: Initiatives like Top Runner programs, renewable targets in five-year plans, and grid infrastructure alignment ensured end-to-end execution.
- Land, labor, and logistics prepared in advance: Large-scale solar farms and factories in Tier-II and Tier-III cities were possible because local governments prioritized utility-scale infrastructure.
In contrast, India still faces fragmented policies across states, slow land acquisition, and logistical bottlenecks.
Can India Catch Up?
India doesn’t need to replicate China, but it must recalibrate its focus. The central challenge isn’t lack of ambition, it’s the gap between targets and execution infrastructure.
For instance, the target of 280 GW solar by 2030 under India’s renewable roadmap is achievable. But it hinges on:
- Fast-tracking approvals and land use policies
- Scaling up domestic manufacturing (including ingot-to-module capabilities)
- Investing in energy storage and smart grid infrastructure
- Promoting R&D in next-gen PV tech like HJT, TOPCon, and perovskites
The Role of Industrial Infrastructure in Solar Scale
Behind every gigawatt are factories, warehouses, EPC setups, and logistics systems.
India must accelerate the creation of industrial ecosystems that support renewable growth not just in panel production but across the value chain:
Glass manufacturing, aluminum frames, inverters, junction boxes, BMS, and EMS.
This is where engineering and design firms like VMS Consultants play a crucial role – by offering end-to-end planning, architectural, and MEPF design for renewable manufacturing units that are scalable, energy-efficient, and future-ready.
Building More Than Just Solar Parks
India is already investing in Solar Parks under the MNRE scheme, but the next step is regionally clustered infrastructure for component manufacturing, testing labs, and skill training.
For example:
- Rajasthan and Gujarat can become hubs for large-scale module and cell factories
- Tamil Nadu and Karnataka offer strong logistics for export-oriented manufacturing
- Odisha and Chhattisgarh can be explored for solar glass production via policy support
A Spotlight on Grid Integration
A less glamorous but equally critical part of the story is the power grid. In China, grid operators are mandated to accept renewable power, and battery storage integration is fast catching up.
India’s DISCOMs, on the other hand, often delay grid approvals or impose high curtailments. Unless grid modernization and storage support move in parallel, installed capacity won’t translate into usable clean power.
Aligning MSMEs and Large Manufacturers
India’s solar manufacturing policy must balance support between MSMEs and big players. Large corporate-backed ventures (like Adani, Reliance, Waaree) are gaining traction, but smaller manufacturers need:
- Easier credit access
- Technology adoption support
- Guidance on export readiness
Designing cost-efficient, well-integrated industrial plants will make these MSMEs globally competitive.
Global Shifts & India’s Export Opportunity
With the US and EU reducing reliance on Chinese imports, India can step in as a reliable alternative – if we can align industrial policy, factory execution, and quality benchmarks.
Already, global developers are scouting Indian vendors for modules, junction boxes, and inverters – but require consistency in quality and timelines.
This is where high-performance industrial facilities designed for cleanroom operations, automated production, and ESG compliance can tip the balance.
Scale with Strategy, Not Just Ambition
India has the sunlight, the talent, and the ambition. What it needs now is coordinated infrastructure development, driven by policy, private investment, and integrated project execution.
Scaling up solar is not just about adding megawatts, it’s about enabling the entire industrial and energy ecosystem to function seamlessly.
