Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo in Delhi, highlighting India's significant achievements and ambitious targets in renewable energy. The summit coincided with the 9th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and the Fourth Conference on Green Hydrogen, making the event particularly significant.
India has achieved remarkable progress in renewable energy, having met its Paris pledge target of 50% non-fossil fuel installed power capacity five years ahead of schedule in 2025. The country is now progressing toward its COP-26 commitment of 500 gigawatts of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, having already achieved nearly 300 gigawatts. India ranks among the top three countries globally in solar and renewable energy capacity.
Several government schemes have driven this growth. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has installed rooftop solar panels on 65 lakh homes in 24-25 months, with 1 lakh new homes joining every six days. This has resulted in electricity bill reductions of nearly 76% for these households, with many achieving zero bills or earning income by selling surplus power to the grid. The KUSUM Scheme has provided solar-powered irrigation to 30 lakh farmers, saving each farmer approximately ₹1 lakh annually. Over 44,000 government buildings are now solar-connected, saving nearly ₹700 crore annually.
India is expanding beyond solar to other clean energy areas. The National Green Hydrogen Mission targets production of 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, with the country already launching its first Green Hydrogen Train. The government is developing Green Energy Corridors with transmission infrastructure to transfer solar and wind power from production to demand areas, supported by the integrated 'One Nation, One Power Grid' system. Recently, India set an investment target of nearly ₹2 lakh crore for strengthening this corridor system.
Domestic manufacturing capacity has grown dramatically from 2 gigawatts of solar module manufacturing a decade ago to over 200 gigawatts today, with solar cell manufacturing reaching nearly 40 gigawatts. This growth supports India's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
The renewable sector has attracted substantial investment, with over ₹15 lakh crore (USD 164 billion) invested in the past decade, including ₹6 lakh crore (USD 63 billion) in just the two years since the RE-INVEST Summit of 2024. Investment opportunities worth over ₹20 lakh crore (approximately USD 220 billion) are estimated by the end of this decade.
The PM outlined future priorities including connecting all government buildings, schools, colleges, hospitals, and street-lighting systems to solar energy rapidly. He proposed expanding solar in agriculture beyond pumps by installing panels on unused land and field boundaries. He called for innovation in solar applications for household needs, clean cooking, electric vehicle charging, and dairy sector equipment, emphasizing the need for indigenous storage solutions and battery storage capacity.
The renewable energy sector is creating significant employment opportunities across manufacturing, installation, servicing, and transportation. India's efforts extend globally through the International Solar Alliance, including a proposed USD 200 million Africa Solar Facility for Africa.