Context
- PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana: Over 21 lakh of the 65 lakh beneficiary households have received zero electricity bills through rooftop solar installations.
- India's renewable energy transition is creating new opportunities for energy self-reliance, employment, domestic manufacturing and decentralised power generation.
- The next phase focuses on achieving 500 GW installed non-fossil fuel-based electricity capacity by 2030.
India's Progress in Solar Energy
- Solar Capacity: Increased by approximately 6,007%, from 2.8 GW in 2014 to 171 GW currently.
- Declining Solar Tariffs: Solar electricity cost declined from around ₹8/unit in 2014–15 to as low as ₹2.15/unit.
- International Achievement: India became the first G20 country to achieve its target of 50% installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, five years ahead of its 2030 deadline.
- PM-KUSUM: Promotes solarisation of agricultural pumps and decentralised renewable energy, transforming farmers from Annadata (food providers) into Urjadata (energy providers).
Next Phase of India's Renewable Energy Transition
- PM-KUSUM 2.0: Promote agrivoltaics, combining agricultural activities with solar power generation, alongside solar pumps.
- Energy Storage: Integrate battery storage with solar generation to ensure reliable electricity supply.
- Green Transmission: Prioritise State-level green energy corridors to facilitate renewable electricity transmission.
- Rooftop Solar: Deepen decentralised solar adoption among households.
- Digitalisation: Digitise electricity networks to improve renewable energy integration and grid management.
Key Requirements for Achieving 500 GW Target: India requires approximately $220 billion investment, comprising $150 billion domestic investment and $70 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Four major requirements are:
- Capital and Investment
- PM Surya Ghar: The pace of rooftop solar adoption has accelerated from taking months to achieve the first one lakh installations to achieving one lakh installations every six days.
- PM-KUSUM: Over 30 lakh standalone solar pumps have been installed.
- Private Sector Participation: Private companies and State governments will drive renewable energy infrastructure expansion, including projects such as Khavda Renewable Energy Park, the world's largest hybrid renewable energy park.
- Institutional Investment: Rooftop solar systems and solar pumps should become bankable asset classes, attracting domestic and foreign pension funds and institutional investors.
- Domestic Manufacturing
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme: Promotes domestic manufacturing of high-efficiency solar modules.
- Manufacturing Capacity: India's solar module manufacturing capacity exceeds 225 GW, while solar cell capacity is around 45 GW.
- Next Priority: Expand domestic manufacturing of solar cells, wafers and polysilicon to reduce import dependence.
- National Green Hydrogen Mission: Develops a domestic electrolyser manufacturing ecosystem to achieve 5 million tonnes annual green hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
- Energy Storage and Transmission
- Storage Requirement: Central Electricity Authority (CEA) estimates India's battery storage requirement at 236 GWh by 2031–32.
- Green Energy Corridor Phase III: Cabinet-approved third phase will support approximately 50 GWh storage capacity, backed by ₹50,000 crore and additional transmission infrastructure.
- Skilled Human Resources and Employment
- Employment Generation: Rooftop solar generates more employment than ground-mounted solar projects due to local requirements for surveying, designing, installation, grid connection and maintenance.
- Decentralised Green Jobs: Creates employment opportunities for youth beyond major cities, including a significant share of opportunities for women.
- Future Potential: India's 500 GW renewable energy target and Green Hydrogen Mission could generate lakhs of full-time-equivalent jobs by 2030.
India's International Renewable Energy Cooperation
- G20 and BRICS Initiatives
- India's G20 Presidency (2023): African Union became a permanent G20 member, while leaders committed to working towards tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.
- BRICS New Delhi Declaration: Adopted unanimously during India's BRICS Chairship in September 2026.
- Key Outcomes: Supported the BRICS Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Cooperation Roadmap and principles for smart grids and energy storage.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- Establishment: Launched by India and France at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) in 2015.
- Membership: Has 130 signatory and member countries.
- Objective: Promote global solar energy deployment through technology cooperation, capacity building, financing and investment mobilisation.
- Global Solar Expansion: The first 1,000 GW of global solar capacity took 25 years, while the next 1,000 GW was added in just two years.
- Capacity Building: ISA promotes skill development through a Global Capability Centre, an Artificial Intelligence-driven ISA Academy and Centres of Excellence in 17 countries.
- Africa Solar Facility: A $200 million facility managed with Africa50 to mobilise capital for solar projects in Africa.
Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026
- Venue and Dates: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, November 2–5, 2026.
- Inauguration: To be inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
- Major Events: For the first time, the Ninth ISA Assembly and Fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen will be organised together.
- Key Focus: Promote reliable electricity, energy security without dependence on imported fuels and food security through solar-powered irrigation.
- Guiding Principle: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The World Is One Family).
Significance of India's Renewable Energy Transition
- Energy Security: Reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels and exposure to international fuel-price volatility.
- Climate Commitments: Supports India's transition towards low-carbon development and its international climate commitments.
- Rural Transformation: Enables farmers to earn additional income through solar power generation.
- Inclusive Growth: Creates decentralised employment opportunities, particularly for rural youth and women.
- Technological Self-Reliance: Strengthens domestic manufacturing of solar modules, cells, batteries and electrolysers.
