Climate Risks Threaten 90% of India's Renewable Energy Pipeline by 2030, Report Warns
Nearly 90 percent of India's planned renewable energy capacity is projected to face high or critical climate risks by 2030, exposing assets valued at over Rs 4 lakh crore. A report released by Zurich Kotak General Insurance and Zurich Resilience Solutions warned that clean energy projects must build in resilience measures from the outset to mitigate these challenges.
The report highlights that India has emerged as the world's third-largest renewable energy capacity holder, with installed non-fossil fuel capacity reaching 283.5 GW by March 2026. However, this ambitious clean energy expansion faces significant environmental threats.
For Maharashtra, the findings offer a mix of reassurance and caution. The state's planned renewable energy portfolio of 13.6 GW is among the least exposed in the country. Only 26 percent of Maharashtra's projects fall into the highest-risk categories.
This stands in sharp contrast to other states. The report projects that 90 percent of planned capacity in Gujarat, 85 percent in Rajasthan, 96 percent in Arunachal Pradesh, and 94 percent in Uttarakhand face high or critical climate risks.
Despite Maharashtra's lower overall risk profile, the report cautions that these figures could mask growing vulnerabilities. Specifically, the cyclone-prone Konkan coast and areas around Mumbai face rising threats.
These coastal and urban areas are experiencing rising temperatures, recurrent flooding, and rapidly growing electricity consumption. The demand is being driven by expanding data centres, industrial electrification, and increasing cooling requirements.
The report analyzed data from 871 planned renewable energy projects spread across 10 states and Union Territories, representing roughly 90 percent of India's pipeline.
Currently, India's renewable generation is expanding at approximately 11 percent annually. This growth is broadly in line with the national target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. However, the report emphasizes that ensuring the reliability of this power is now as critical as expanding its capacity.
