Water use in solar power sector

India’s rapidly growing solar sector is heavily exposed to water-risks. This report examines the extent of exposure and measures that may be used to mitigate them. India’s solar sector is growing rapidly – total installed capacity has risen from just 1 GW in 2012 to over 25 GW at present and is expected to go up by over 50 GW in the next five years. Rapid growth and concentration in water-stressed areas exposes solar projects to a growing water risk – scarcity, rising cost, conflict with other social and economic uses and environmental degradation.