Maharashtra has secured second place in the Renewable Energy State Assessment Framework (RE-SAF) 2025–26, scoring 76.07 points in the national assessment. The recognition was announced at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 in New Delhi, where Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan presented the award to Maharashtra's Minister of State for Energy, Meghna Sakore-Bordikar, and Additional Chief Secretary Abha Shukla on November 5. The assessment was developed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in collaboration with the Power Finance Corporation (PFC).
The ranking reflects a broader assessment of state-level renewable energy development and power-sector reforms rather than installed capacity alone. Maharashtra's approach covers seven areas: expanding renewable generation, shifting agricultural electricity supply towards solar power, strengthening distribution infrastructure, introducing smart meters and digital grid management, improving policy and regulatory arrangements, encouraging investment and energy storage, and improving the reliability and affordability of electricity.
Agricultural solarisation is a major part of this strategy. Under the Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana (MSKVY) 2.0, the state is developing decentralised solar power projects near agricultural feeders and substations. The model is intended to supply farmers with electricity during daytime hours, reducing their dependence on conventional grid supply for irrigation. The programme has an expanded target of 16,000 MW, with the entire targeted capacity awarded and approximately 7,000 MW commissioned, according to figures presented by the state Energy Department.
The programme's feeder-level approach is significant because it connects solar generation more directly with agricultural electricity demand. Maharashtra has reported that more than 4,500 agricultural feeders and 1,200 substations have been solarised under the initiative, benefiting over 18 lakh farmers. The state has also established MSEB Solar Agro Power Limited as an institutional mechanism to support implementation. These developments indicate that the programme is designed not simply to add generation capacity, but to change how agricultural electricity is supplied and managed.
Solar-powered irrigation has also expanded through PM-KUSUM Component B and the Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana. Maharashtra has installed nearly 12 lakh standalone off-grid solar agricultural pumps under these initiatives, accounting for approximately 65% of the country's installations, according to the state Energy Department's briefing. The state also reported that Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) installed 45,911 functional solar pumps in 30 days, an achievement recognised by Guinness World Records.
Residential solar forms another part of the state's renewable energy programme. Maharashtra secured second place nationally in rooftop solar installations under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. MSEDCL had received more than 16 lakh applications under the scheme, while the state's overall rooftop solar capacity had crossed 7,100 MW, according to the Energy Department's presentation. These figures indicate the scale of interest in household solar, although applications received and installations completed are separate measures and should not be treated as equivalent.
The state has also pursued smaller, decentralised solar initiatives. Under the Saur Gram Yojana, 17 villages have been developed as fully solar-powered villages. The SMART scheme is intended to encourage rooftop solar installations among households below the poverty line. Together, these initiatives extend the state's approach beyond large renewable energy projects to agricultural, residential and rural electricity needs.
Maharashtra's broader policy direction is set out in its Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Policy for 2025–26 to 2035–36, published by the state Energy Department. The policy places renewable generation and storage within a longer-term framework for the state's electricity transition. This is relevant to the assessment because the expansion of variable solar and wind generation also requires stronger distribution and transmission networks, storage capacity and improved grid management.
The second-place assessment result should, however, be distinguished from Maharashtra's position in installed renewable energy capacity. MNRE's Renewable Energy Statistics 2024–25 recorded 22.40 GW of installed renewable energy capacity in Maharashtra as of March 31, 2025, placing it fifth nationally. The ministry's data also showed that solar accounted for 55.22% of the state's renewable capacity and wind for 27.30%. The different rankings reflect different measurement periods and assessment criteria: RE-SAF recognises a broader set of state initiatives and reforms, while installed-capacity rankings measure the amount of renewable generation infrastructure in operation.
Maharashtra's recognition therefore highlights the role of implementation models, particularly agricultural feeder solarisation, alongside capacity expansion. The next test will be converting awarded projects into commissioned assets, maintaining reliable daytime supply to farmers and integrating additional renewable generation into the electricity network. Progress in these areas will determine how effectively the state can sustain its position in future assessments.