India is gearing up for another major expansion in its renewable energy sector, with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announcing an ambitious target to add another 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity over the next 10 to 11 years. Inaugurating the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 02nd November, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s progress in clean energy, growing domestic manufacturing capabilities and the investment opportunities emerging across the sector.
Addressing industry leaders, investors, startup representatives and senior officials from India and abroad, the Prime Minister emphasized that global energy disruptions have reinforced the importance of energy security and reduced dependence on fossil fuels. He said India’s sustained investments in clean energy and systemic reforms over the past decade had helped the country navigate global challenges while maintaining economic growth.
“If India had not invested in clean energy and created new systems for this over the past decade, then our crisis could have been much more severe than the rest of the world,” the Prime Minister noted.
India Sets Sights on Another 500 GW of Non-Fossil Capacity
Highlighting the country’s progress in clean energy, the Prime Minister said India had achieved its Paris climate commitment of sourcing 50% of its installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 deadline.
India has already achieved nearly 300 GW towards its existing 500 GW non-fossil capacity target and now has more than 50% of its installed power capacity from non-fossil sources, according to the Prime Minister. He also noted that India ranks among the top three countries in solar and renewable energy.
Building on this progress, the government has set an ambitious goal of adding another 500 GW of new non-fossil energy capacity over the next 10 to 11 years.
“This target is somewhat difficult, but I have faith in the capability of my country; therefore I say, We will do it!”, the Prime Minister affirmed.
He also emphasized that the benefits of India’s clean energy development should extend beyond its borders, with the country aiming to share its technologies, innovations and experience with other nations.
PM Surya Ghar Scheme Drives Household Solar Adoption
Highlighting the growing adoption of rooftop solar power, the Prime Minister pointed to the progress of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana launched in February 2024 with the objective of installing rooftop solar systems in one crore households.
More than 65 lakh households have joined the initiative within 24 to 25 months, with approximately one lakh new households being added every six days.
According to him, a study has indicated that the scheme has helped reduce electricity bills by approximately 76%. Several households have also brought their electricity bills down to zero, while some are earning additional income by selling surplus electricity to the grid.
He also highlighted the role of solar energy in government infrastructure and agriculture. Connecting more than 44,000 government buildings to solar power is generating annual savings of nearly ₹700 crore.
Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, solar irrigation facilities have been extended to more than 30 lakh farmers, with each solar pump beneficiary saving nearly ₹1 lakh annually, according to the Prime Minister.
The PM Surya Sarovar Yojana which involves installing solar panels over reservoirs, ponds and lakes was also highlighted as an initiative to utilize available water bodies while reducing land acquisition requirements.
Push for Solar Innovation, Green Hydrogen and Energy Storage
Emphasizing that the next phase of the solar revolution must be driven by innovation alongside adoption, the Prime Minister urged startups, IITs, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop solutions that can meet a larger share of household energy requirements through solar power.
He called for the development of round-the-clock, all-weather solar solutions, including rooftop solar cooking systems to reduce dependence on imported cooking gas and home-based solar charging facilities for electric two-wheelers and cars.
“I strongly urge our startups, IITs, innovators, and entrepreneurs to develop models that ensure the maximum energy needs of a household are fulfilled through solar power,” the Prime Minister added.
He also called for specialized solar-powered equipment for rural applications, particularly in the dairy and agriculture sectors, including animal fodder management, crop harvesting and post-harvest activities.
Beyond solar power, India is advancing its clean energy initiatives under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to achieve annual green hydrogen production of 50 lakh tonnes by the end of the decade. The Prime Minister also highlighted the integration of green hydrogen into the transport sector and noted that India’s first green hydrogen train had commenced operations a few months earlier.
The Prime Minister further stressed the importance of next-generation innovation, indigenous storage hardware and additional battery storage capacity to support the expansion of clean energy.
India Strengthens Solar Manufacturing and Transmission Infrastructure
Highlighting the growth of domestic manufacturing, the Prime Minister mentioned that India’s solar module manufacturing capacity had increased from approximately 2 GW a decade ago to more than 200 GW. The country has also developed nearly 40 GW of solar cell manufacturing capacity, alongside expanding production of other solar components.
He described this growth as an important achievement for the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, particularly given India’s earlier dependence on imports for several solar components.
The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of strengthening power transmission infrastructure to ensure electricity generated in solar and wind-rich regions reaches households, farms and industries across the country.
India’s Green Energy Corridors supported by dedicated transmission lines and substations are helping integrate renewable energy into the national grid. He also highlighted the One Nation, One Power Grid initiative, which brought five regional grids onto a single frequency.
To strengthen this infrastructure further, India has set an investment target of approximately ₹2 lakh crore, according to the Prime Minister.
Renewable Energy Investment Opportunities to Exceed ₹20 Lakh Crore
The renewable energy sector has attracted investments exceeding ₹15 lakh crore, equivalent to approximately US$164 billion over the past decade, the Prime Minister stated.
More than ₹6 lakh crore or approximately US$63 billion has been invested in the sector in the two years since the 2024 RE-INVEST Summit. Looking ahead, investment opportunities in India’s clean energy sector are projected to exceed ₹20 lakh crore, equivalent to approximately US$220 billion by the end of the decade.
The Prime Minister invited global investors to explore opportunities in India, citing the country’s growing demand, scale, policy stability and expanding clean energy ecosystem.
He also highlighted India’s proposal for a US$200 million Africa Solar Facility, aimed at extending the benefits of solar energy to countries across the African continent.
Clean Energy Expansion Expected to Generate Employment
Concluding his address, the Prime Minister highlighted the employment potential of India’s clean energy transition, pointing to opportunities across solar panel and hardware manufacturing, installation, servicing and transportation.
He noted that expanding solar adoption across households, industries and transport could create new industries while generating employment opportunities across multiple segments of the economy.
With the coming decade being critical for achieving global climate goals, the Prime Minister called for stronger collaboration, innovation and investment to accelerate the clean energy transition.
“Only then will we be able to build a Clean Future, a Green Future, and a Secure Future,” asserted the Prime Minister.
