India has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. As part of this commitment, the country has set an ambitious goal of reaching 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with solar power expected to play a leading role.

A crucial enabler of this solar expansion is the widespread use of zinc-coated steel in mounting structures. The choice of zinc coated steel depends on several factors, including structural strength, site location, environmental conditions, mounting configuration (fixed or tracking), solar panel power rating, and the cost and local availability of materials.

In FY2025 alone, India consumed an estimated 740–750 KT of zinc coatedsteel for solar mounting structures. Around 95% of this demand was met by hot-dip zinc coated steel and galvalume, with the rest coming from galvanised iron (GI) and ZAM (zinc-aluminum-magnesium) coated materials.
India’s solar journey is set to accelerate further in the coming years.

By FY2030, the country’s total installed solar capacity is expected to exceed 353 GW, driven by consistent additions and expanding project pipelines.
In tandem with this growth, Quesrow estimates that demand for zinc coated steel used in solar mounting structures will rise significantly, reaching approximately 1,400–1,420 KT by FY2030.

However, several near-term challenges could impact progress:

- Meeting annual capacity addition targets consistently through FY2030
- The emergence of hybrid aluminium-steel structures and the wider adoption of ZAM
- Logistical difficulties in deploying infrastructure in remote solar park locations