The promises and perils of large-scale solar projects in India: A news media content analysis

Renewable energy sources are an important component of decarbonisation and energy systems transitions. Despite an emerging need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, the energy transition has been progressing at different rates in countries. As developing countries like India take centre stage in the global solar energy transition, large-scale solar parks in the country has become the subject of global debate and news media attention. The success of green technology deployments is not only influenced by technological factors but also by complex socio-political factors. Hence, it is imperative to understand the technical, social, economic, political, regulatory, social, and environmental narratives in the form of benefits and risks conveyed to readers about the parks. In this study, we explore the major themes and dominant storylines conveyed in Indian newspapers by doing a qualitative content analysis of 106 news articles from five major English newspapers in the country. Results showed that the regulatory frames emerged as the frequently reported theme, whereas environmental and social frames occupied the lowest coverage. The findings highlight the capacity of media discourse and politics to shape the trajectory of India’s solar transition.