India added a record 3 GW of open-access solar capacity in the second quarter of 2026, taking cumulative installations to 36 GW. First-half additions reached nearly 6 GW, up 42% year on year, driven by strong C&I demand and regulatory deadlines.
India added 3 GW of open-access solar capacity in the second quarter of 2026, marking the highest quarterly addition on record, according to Mercom India’s newly released Q2 & 1H 2026 India Solar Open Access Market Report.
In India, open-access solar allows commercial and industrial (C&I) consumers to procure electricity from off-site solar projects through the transmission and distribution network, rather than relying solely on their local distribution companies. Power is typically supplied under third-party power purchase agreements (PPAs) or captive and group-captive arrangements, with project economics determined by factors including state-level open-access regulations, grid charges, banking provisions and applicable surcharges.
The report also reveals that open-access installations rose 10% quarter on quarter, with Rajasthan accounting for 25% of capacity additions during the quarter.
Solar open-access additions reached nearly 6 GW in the first half of 2026, up 42% year on year from 4 GW in the same period of 2025.
