Renewable energy sources contributed to nearly seven per cent of total power capacity during the Eighth Five-Year Plan.

From bagasse-based cogeneration 3500 MW power can be generated from the 430 sugar mills in India.

By mid 2000, 1704 biomass gasifiers with an aggregate capacity of 34.36 MW had been installed, these power plants being ideal in rural areas for decentralized applications.

Forty biomass combustion-based power projects aggregating 222 MW are either installed or under implementation.

India is one of the largest markets and manufacturers of solar PV modules in the world, has installed 58 MWp of Solar PV systems for various end-uses and has exported about 6 MWp PV.

In wind power generation, India ranks fifth in the world. With an installed capacity of over 1175 MW, India's wind power is estimated at 45 000 MW.

Estimated potential for small hydropower (up to 3 MW) in India is 10 000 MW by end 1999 the installed capacity was 210 MW.