Mercom reports that the so-called “open-access” solar installations were up 170% year-over-year from 1 GW added in Q1 2025. As of March 2026, cumulative installed solar open access capacity stood at 32.9 GW.
May 22, 2026
From pv magazine India
India installed 2.7 GW of “open-access” solar capacity in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, marking 59% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) growth from 1.7 GW in Q4 2025 and the second-highest quarterly additions on record. Installations also rose 170% year-over-year (YoY) compared to 1 GW in Q1 2025, according to Mercom India’s newly released report, Q1 2026 India Solar Open Access Market.
Mercom report said strong installation activity during the quarter was driven by a combination of regulatory and market factors. The upcoming transition to ALMM List-II-compliant solar cells and modules pushed developers to accelerate project execution to meet new requirement, amid concerns over supply shortages and rising procurement costs. Additional growth drivers included supportive state policies, shorter approval timelines, and stronger market outreach.
