The expansion of renewable energy is central to India’s long-term energy transition strategy. However, the distribution of renewable resources and their actual development differ significantly across states. This study examines state-level variations in renewable energy potential and installed capacity in India using secondary data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), MoSPI Energy Statistics and India Climate and Energy Dashboard (ICED), NITI Aayog. The analysis focuses on major renewable sources, including solar, wind, and hydro power, to evaluate how effectively natural resource availability is being translated into installed infrastructure. A descriptive comparative approach is adopted to assess the extent to which resource potential is reflected in installed capacity. The study calculates the ratio of installed capacity to estimated potential to identify differences in renewable energy utilization across states. This helps highlight states that have effectively utilized their resource base and those where substantial underutilized capacity potential persists. The study will help inform state-level policy formulation, strengthen renewable energy planning strategies, and support the effective utilization of renewable resources across India.

Keywords: Energy Transition, Renewable Resources, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Hydro Energy.