India will become the third biggest solar market globally in 2017, says India Solar Handbook 2017 by Bridge to India, a consulting and knowledge service provider in the clean technology market.

With 8.8 gw (giga watt) of projected capacity addition -- a growth of 76% over 2016 -- India is set to become the third-largest photovoltaic market (PV) market in 2017, which will overtake Japan, the company said in a statement.

As of March 2017, India has already installed 12.2 gw of utility scale solar power, it said. Union Minister Piyush Goyal tweeted:

India powers up- set to become the world's 3rd largest solar market this year. Know more at https://t.co/PKiOm2zjM7 #MakeInIndia pic.twitter.com/L7jfDaXdPT — Make in India (@makeinindia) May 11, 2017

According to the report, about 79 gw of solar capacity is expected to be added globally in 2017, with Asian countries continuing to dominate and Europe falling by the wayside.

It said India's solar capacity is expected to touch the 18.7 gw mark by the end of 2017, about 5% of the global pie, growing 89% over the last year.

Total new solar capacity addition in the next 5 years is expected at 56 gw, it said.

Locally, it said Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have emerged as the fastest growing states in India in terms of solar installation and in 2017, nearly 60% of total new capacity addition is expected to come from southern states.