India can add 27 GW solar by repurposing coal mines, says GEM report

A new report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) reveals that 446 abandoned and soon-to-close coal mines worldwide could host nearly 300 GW of photovoltaic (PV) solar capacity. This is equivalent to 15% of global installed solar capacity and spans over 5,800 square km of degraded land. This includes 103 GW on 312 already-idled mines and 185 GW on sites expected to close by 2030. India ranks fourth globally, with an estimated 27.11 GW solar potential across 63 coal mines in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Telangana. The report highlights economic, environmental, and employment benefits of converting mine lands, including over 577,000 job opportunities. While China leads in operational coal-to-solar projects, countries like Australia, the US, Indonesia, and India collectively hold three-quarters of the untapped global potential.