India plans to reach 500GW renewables capacity by 2030, said a senior government official.

The goal represents another ambitious stretch for the nation beyond its existing headline target of 175GW by 2022 – including 100GW from solar and 60GW from wind power.

“By 2030, India plans to establish 500GW of renewable energy capacity," Anand Kumar, secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, told the assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena).

The official’s comments come soon after the landslide re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has made massive renewables expansion a cornerstone policy since his days as leader of the state of Gujarat.

Kumar did not give any further details of the make-up of the renewables mix, which would also include large hydropower.

However, MNRE has previously said it is keen to see contribution from new sources such as offshore wind and floating solar.

India has set a 30GW target for offshore wind by 2030 and is due to release details of its first tender later this year.

The ambitious target comes amid skepticism that India will be able to meet the 2022 goal – which Kumar again claimed it is on course to hit.

Some analysts have pointed to patchy success in India’s massive auction programme, an inadequate grid and land availability issues as evidence that the nation will struggle to reach the 175GW figure – although none doubt huge progress will be made.