India has surpassed its 2030 target, achieving 50 per cent non-fossil electric power capacity by June 2025, though only ~24 per cent of electricity is from these sources. Aiming for 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 and net zero by 2070, India’s clean energy goals hinge on securing critical minerals for solar, wind turbines, EVs and battery storage. A looming “rare earth crisis” threatens progress.

Ambition meets materials reality

TERI projects total capacity could reach ~820 GW by 2030, with >500 GW from non-fossil sources. By 2050, a net-zero-aligned pathway would require 1,472 GW of solar PV, 421 GW of wind and ~864 GW of battery storage. For context, as of June 2025 total installed capacity was ~485 GW, implying annual RE additions of 65 GW for decades. TERI’s latest assessment revises India’s technical solar potential to ~10,830 GW, nearly 14Ã — the earlier official estimate by tapping rooftops, floating solar, agri-PV, rail corridors and building-integrated PV. Space and sunlight aren’t binding; minerals and mid-stream capacity are. Delivering this build-out demands vast amounts of polysilicon, silver, tellurium, indium, gallium, copper, as well as battery materials and grid metals.

Critical minerals

Clean technologies are mineral intensive. Rare earths such as neodymium and dysprosium enable compact, efficient magnets in wind turbines and EV motors. Lithium provides battery energy density; cobalt and nickel enhance stability. Solar PV relies on silicon; gallium is critical for high-efficiency cells and power electronics. Copper, graphite and additional rare earths anchor this supply........

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