The world is getting warmer, and developments like record-breaking heatwaves to devastating floods prove that climate change is a pressing concern. The solution everyone’s talking about is net-zero emissions, but what does that actually mean?
Net zero means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere with the amount we remove from it. The goal is to reach this balance by 2050 to prevent dangerous climate change. The global net zero targets to accomplish by 2050 is to keep global warming below 1.5°C. This may sound simple but this is a big challenge. Now, this is where solar energy comes in, one of the most viable tools to deal with this challenge.
The Reality of Global Emissions
According to Climate Trace, global greenhouse gas emissions for February 2025 reached 5.04 billion tonnes CO2e. Energy-related CO2 emissions reached an all-time high of 37.8 Gt CO2 in 2024, which is an 0.8% increase from the previous year.
This is not about numbers, it’s about the fundamental systems that power our world. The energy sector drives three-quarters of all global greenhouse gas emissions. The story these numbers tell is clear, we’re not just missing our climate targets, we’re moving further away from them.
A challenge like this also creates opportunities and that’s exactly what’s happening with renewable energy, particularly in India.
India’s Renewable Energy Revolution
India is writing one of the world’s most impressive renewable energy stories. The country now has 226.9 GW of renewable energy capacity as of June 2025, and the pace of growth is accelerating. In 2025 alone, India has reached 110.9 GW of solar capacity which is more than many other countries.
What makes this transformation remarkable is how quickly we’ve scaled our clean energy ecosystem. A decade ago, this wouldn’t have been possible but today, it is part of our reality. Non-fossil-based sources now generate 49% of India’s total power installed capacity, and these numbers are growing. The country is on its way to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
One of the key reasons solar power is at the forefront of India’s clean energy transition is its increasing cost-effectiveness. States like Rajasthan and Gujarat have already demonstrated how large-scale solar development can drive both environmental and economic progress by building massive solar parks and generating thousands of jobs. Madhya Pradesh is also emerging as a strategic player in this shift, with several operational solar parks and many more in the pipeline. Upcoming manufacturing initiatives, including GREW Solar’s solar cell facility, will further strengthen the state’s position in India’s renewable energy ecosystem.
The transition to solar energy is not just about replacing coal plants, it’s also about building energy security, reducing import dependence to strengthen our clean energy ecosystem.
How Solar Energy Drives Net-Zero Goals
Solar energy helps with the climate problem in multiple ways. One of the most direct ways is replacing fossil fuels with solar for energy production as it reduces carbon emissions. What makes solar even more beneficial is its energy production efficiency. A single solar panel produces about 20 times more energy during its lifetime than was needed to manufacture it.
But solar is not just one of the cleanest ways to produce energy, it’s also affordable. Solar costs less than coal or gas making it an attractive option for businesses. This makes choosing solar the natural choice rather than being policy-driven.
Solar is also being used to power a whole network of clean technologies. Battery systems can store solar energy for use at night or during cloudy days. Solar-powered facilities can split water molecules to create green hydrogen, which can then decarbonize heavy industries like steel and cement production. Electric vehicles charged with solar power complete the clean energy circle, creating transportation with zero emissions from start to finish.
As more solar projects get built, manufacturers produce more panels, it drives down the costs of solar further. Lower costs lead to more installations, which creates more manufacturing demand, and this improves technology and reduces costs even more. This cycle then keeps on driving solar energy’s growth
The Challenges We Still Face
Despite all this progress, solar energy growth has its challenges. One of the technical challenges is grid integration. Solar power produces electricity only when the sun is out, this is why we need better energy storage systems and smarter grid planning that can help balance supply and demand in real-time.
The other challenge is the financial aspect. While solar panel costs have reduced, large-scale projects require huge capital. This is one of the main reasons so many developing countries struggle to get financing for renewable energy projects.
Supply chain issues are another complex challenge. Solar panels need specific materials and manufacturing processes. Since most of the production is concentrated in a few countries, this creates a problem. One of the solutions is to build more resilient, distributed supply chains that help scale solar globally.
Land use is another complication. Utility-scale solar projects need significant land areas which can create issues for agriculture or conservation needs. However, innovative solutions like agrivoltaics combine solar panels with farming, setting an example for how we can address multiple needs together.
GREW Solar’s Role in the Net-Zero Journey
Solar energy is one of the ways to combat climate change issues and it is the foundation of our clean energy future. It is technologically advanced, economical and has an accelerating growth rate, making it one of the best clean energy sources.
At GREW Solar, we’re proud to be part of this transformation. Our plans to scale to 10.0 GW of solar module manufacturing and 6.0 GW of cell manufacturing by 2026 are targets that will contribute to India’s net-zero goals. Every module manufactured with sustainable manufacturing practices helps in making the clean energy transition cleaner.
The path to achieving the net-zero goals that our country has set will require a joint cooperation between industries, governments, and the people. With solar energy, we can build a better, more prosperous future for everyone.
FAQs
- How do solar panels contribute to net zero?
Solar panels help with net zero goals by replacing electricity that would normally come from fossil fuels. When solar panels generate power it means less greenhouse gas emissions. Over their lifespan, solar panels prevent far more emissions than were created during their manufacturing.
- What is the goal of solar energy?
The main goal of solar energy is to provide clean energy by replacing fossil fuels as our primary energy source while reducing air pollution. It also helps bring solar power to areas that don’t have electricity and creates job opportunities in the clean energy sector.
- What is the goal of net zero?
Net zero means balancing the amount of greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere with the amount we remove from it to prevent climate change from getting worse. To achieve this will require cutting emissions while also removing carbon from the air through forests and clean technology.
- What is India’s new goal for solar energy capacity by 2030?
India has set the target of 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with solar energy being a large part of it. This goal is part of India’s sustainability commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.
