Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘India Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026’ at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday and announced an ambitious target to add 500 gigawatts (GW) of additional non-fossil energy capacity over the next 10–11 years.
He said India is making rapid progress in the clean energy sector and working towards its target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030. The country has already installed approximately 300 GW of non-fossil energy capacity.
Modi said that sustained investment and policy reforms have strengthened India’s energy security despite global challenges. He highlighted that in 2025, India achieved over 50% of its total installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, reaching the milestone five years ahead of the deadline set under the Paris Climate Agreement.
India’s Push for Solar Energy and Green Hydrogen
Highlighting the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024, the Prime Minister stated that in about two years, more than 65 lakh households have installed solar panels on their rooftops. The scheme aims to reach 1 crore households. This initiative helps households lower their electricity bills while providing an opportunity to earn additional income by selling surplus power back to the grid.
Modi also mentioned the solar installations across more than 44,000 government buildings, which are generating annual savings of approximately ₹700 crore. Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, more than 30 lakh farmers have benefited from solar irrigation facilities. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, India has set a target to produce 50 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. Modi mentioned that the country has recently launched its first green hydrogen-powered train.
Innovation and International Cooperation
Highlighting innovation as key to the future of solar energy, Modi urged startups, IITs and researchers to develop practical solar solutions for homes, electric vehicle charging, agriculture and dairy farming. He also called for specialised solar equipment for agriculture and dairy farming, alongside greater investment in battery storage technologies. The Prime Minister also encouraged states and local bodies to accelerate the installation of solar energy systems in government buildings, schools, colleges, hospitals, and streetlight networks.
Highlighting international cooperation, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to sharing clean energy technologies and expertise with other countries through the International Solar Alliance. He also highlighted a proposed $200 million Africa Solar Facility aimed at supporting solar energy development across the African continent.
Manufacturing Growth and Investment Opportunities
Emphasizing the need to boost domestic manufacturing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India’s solar module manufacturing capacity has seen significant growth over the last decade, which has helped reduce reliance on imports.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated that the country’s solar module manufacturing capacity has increased to 225 GW and solar cell manufacturing capacity has reached 45 GW. He also shared that India’s total installed non-fossil fuel-based energy capacity has crossed the 310 GW mark.
India’s renewable energy sector has attracted investments of over ₹15 lakh crore in the past decade, with investment opportunities expected to exceed ₹20 lakh crore by the end of this decade. The government is also focusing on strengthening transmission infrastructure through Green Energy Corridors and the One Nation, One Power Grid network, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting a proposed investment of around ₹2 lakh crore for further expansion of the transmission network.
The summit, being held from November 2 to 5, is taking place alongside the ninth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and the fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen. The objective of this event is to bring global investors, policymakers, manufacturers, and technical experts onto a single platform to foster investment and international cooperation in the renewable energy sector.
(PIB)
