J&K ranks second in India for having the highest potential to generate solar energy. J&K has the potential to generate 11,510 MW of solar power across the country. In India, Rajasthan is ranked first with the potential to generate 14,907 MW of solar power, followed by J&K, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and other states. J&K currently has 27,25 MW of installed solar power capacity. The Centre has released Rs 27,98 crores in the last fiscal year to further harness the potential of solar energy in the UT. The Ministry of Energy (MoE) has launched a mission to generate 175 GW of renewable energy, including 100 GW of solar power, 60 GW of wind power, 10 GW of bio-energy and 5 GW of small hydro-electric power.
The Centre has proposed to install 4,000 more agricultural solar pumps and to commission around 80 megawatt of solar capacity in the Union territory, covering 20,000 families. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has set a target of 500 Megawatts of Solar Energy by 2030 under the Clean Energy Mission. The government has also set a target of 1500 MW of Solar Energy in the Union Territory by 2047. The Jammu and Kashmir Development Agency has been encouraging people to use solar energy powered appliances. The government is providing financial support for solar water heater, cookers, and other everyday appliances to encourage people to use renewable energy in the coming months.