India added 3 GW of open access solar capacity in the second quarter, a quarterly record driven by new sourcing requirements, according to Mercom India Research.

India added 3 gigawatts (GW) of solar open access capacity in the second quarter of 2026, the highest quarterly addition on record, according to a report by Mercom India Research. The increase represents a 10% rise quarter over quarter and a 0.2% gain year over year, the study noted.

Growth driven by enforcement of sourcing requirements

On a half-year basis, installations reached nearly 6 GW, up 42% year over year compared with 4 GW recorded a year earlier, Mercom India Research said. The report attributed the momentum to developers' accelerated procurement and commissioning activity, as well as compliance with sourcing requirements under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers List-II (ALMM List-II), which governs approved solar equipment in the country. Elsewhere in the solar sector, several companies have recently secured new contracts, including Lightstar Renewables in the United States, Huasun in Pakistan and Gurīn Energy in South Korea, illustrating the continued expansion of the solar industry across multiple continents.

Karnataka leads cumulative market

India's cumulative installed solar open access capacity stood at 36 GW as of the end of June 2026, according to Mercom India Research. Karnataka led the market with a 21% share, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra at 16% each. Together, the top five states accounted for 77% of cumulative installed capacity.

Despite this concentration of operating capacity, Mercom India Research noted that the development pipeline remains substantial. The report did not detail the geographic distribution of these upcoming projects, but confirmed that the growth momentum observed over the first half could continue in coming quarters.