Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged startups, IITs, innovators and entrepreneurs to develop round-the-clock, all-weather solar models capable of meeting the maximum energy needs of households, including rooftop solar cooking to reduce reliance on imported gas, and home solar charging facilities for electric two-wheelers and cars.
Inaugurating the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, he said the new era of the solar revolution relies on innovation as much as adoption. “Through this, middle-class families of the country can save thousands of rupees every year,” noted PM Modi.
Addressing industry leaders, investors, startup representatives and senior officials from India and abroad, the Prime Minister said this year’s summit was taking place amid global energy shocks that had underscored the importance of renewable energy in daily life and national development.
He noted that the event coincides with the Ninth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and includes delegates from the Fourth Conference on Green Hydrogen.
India’s Clean Energy Investments Strengthened Energy Security
Observing that the global economy had weathered unprecedented disruptions, ranging from the Corona pandemic to the ongoing West Asia crisis, PM Modi said 140 crore Indians take pride in how effectively the country has managed the turmoil while maintaining high economic growth.
He emphasised that a decade of sustained domestic investment and systemic reforms in clean energy had shielded India from severe external shocks.
“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,” he said.
Stating that recent global disruptions had demonstrated the direct link between energy security and economic security, the Prime Minister warned that continued over-reliance on fossil fuels would repeatedly disrupt the world economy, as fossil reserves are finite and concentrated in a few regions.
Contrasting this vulnerability with the universally accessible potential of clean energy, he asserted, “And we all know, the future of Energy Security lies in Clean Energy.”
India Targets 500 GW Additional Non-Fossil Capacity
Describing India’s 12-year clean energy journey as one defined by Promises, Passion, and Performance, PM Modi highlighted the country’s COP-26 commitment to achieve 500 Gigawatts of non-fossil capacity by 2030.
He said India fulfilled its Paris pledge of sourcing half its installed power capacity from non-fossil sources in 2025, five years ahead of schedule.
Noting that India now ranks among the top three nations in solar and renewable energy, with over 50 per cent non-fossil installed capacity and nearly 300 Gigawatts already achieved towards the 500-Gigawatt target, he announced an ambitious goal to add another 500 Gigawatts of new non-fossil 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!” he said.
The Prime Minister also emphasised India’s commitment to sharing the benefits of its innovations and experiences with the world, stating that the country’s achievements in clean energy would benefit numerous nations.
PM Surya Ghar Scheme Covers Over 65 Lakh Households
Highlighting the progress of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024 to install rooftop solar panels in one crore homes, PM Modi said over 65 lakh households had joined the initiative within 24 to 25 months.
He noted that the scheme was adding one lakh new homes every six days and had helped reduce electricity bills by roughly 76 per cent, according to a study. Lakhs of families have also brought their electricity bills down to zero and are earning money by selling surplus power to the grid.
“This scheme of India can give great strength to energy security in many countries,” he said.
Highlighting efforts over the past 12 years to integrate solar power into daily life, industry and agriculture, the Prime Minister said connecting over 44,000 government buildings with solar energy was saving nearly Rs 700 crore annually.
He added that the KUSUM scheme had provided solar irrigation to over 30 lakh farmers, saving each solar pump beneficiary nearly Rs 1 lakh every year.
He also cited the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana, which installs solar panels over reservoirs, ponds and lakes to optimise water bodies and save land acquisition costs.
“India is making solar power a part of the lives of its citizens,” he said.
Green Hydrogen and Transmission Infrastructure
PM Modi said India’s clean energy ecosystem extended beyond hydro, solar, wind and nuclear power, with the country advancing under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to produce 50 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen by the end of the decade.
He also highlighted efforts to integrate green hydrogen into the transport sector, noting that India had started its first Green Hydrogen Train just a few months ago.
Emphasising the importance of efficient power distribution, he said electricity generated in high-production solar and wind zones must reach regions with lower output so that households, farms and industries across the country benefit equally.
He highlighted the development of Green Energy Corridors, comprising dedicated transmission lines and substations, supported by the One Nation, One Power Grid network, which unified five regional grids onto a single frequency.
He added that India was now advancing to the next phase of strengthening its transmission infrastructure, with an investment target of about Rs 2 lakh crore recently set for the purpose.
Solar Manufacturing Capacity Crosses 200 GW
Attributing India’s green energy progress to the growth of domestic manufacturing, PM Modi said the country had moved beyond complete import dependence for even minor solar components.
He noted that solar module manufacturing capacity had increased from around 2 Gigawatts a decade ago to over 200 Gigawatts today, alongside nearly 40 Gigawatts of solar cell capacity and expanding production of other components.
He said India’s green energy ambitions also reflected the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India campaigns.
PM Calls for Solarisation of Government Buildings, Farms
Stressing the need to maintain the momentum of clean energy expansion, the Prime Minister called for swiftly connecting every government building, school, college, hospital and streetlight network to solar energy.
He proposed encouraging healthy competition among states and local bodies to incentivise top performers and promote peer learning from local success stories.
On solar power in agriculture, PM Modi urged moving beyond the distribution of lakhs of solar pumps and encouraging farmers in the maximum number of villages to install solar panels on vacant land and along farm boundary ridges.
“We have to move beyond solar pumps,” he said.
Highlighting the need for specialised clean energy applications in rural allied sectors, he also called for developing dedicated solar products for the dairy sector.
“For animal fodder, crop harvesting, and post-harvest, solar equipment should be developed for every such work,” he said.
PM Stresses Innovation, Battery Storage and Job Creation
Emphasising the importance of next-generation innovation, indigenous storage hardware and new battery storage capacity, PM Modi described the sector as a major opportunity for India’s youth and urged researchers and investors to seize it.
He said every clean energy initiative in one of the world’s youngest nations was generating thousands of jobs across panel and hardware manufacturing, installation, servicing and transportation.
Further expansion of solar capacity would multiply employment opportunities across the economy, he added.
“From the kitchen stove to the means of transport, when everything is solar-power-driven and green-energy-driven, then a new industry will be created,” he said.
Renewable Energy Attracts Over Rs 15 Lakh Crore Investment
Inviting global investors to leverage India’s demand, scale, scope, and political and policy stability, the Prime Minister said the renewable energy sector had attracted over Rs 15 lakh crore, or 164 billion dollars, over the past decade.
This included over Rs 6 lakh crore, or 63 billion dollars, in the two years since the 2024 RE-INVEST Summit. Investment opportunities in the sector are projected to exceed Rs 20 lakh crore, or 220 billion dollars, by the end of the decade.
He said India’s clean energy sector would open up new opportunities for investors.
India Proposes 200 Million Dollar Africa Solar Facility
Recalling India’s global message of One Earth, One Family, One Future, which underpins both its clean energy journey and the International Solar Alliance, PM Modi said the country was committed to ensuring that necessary funding, technology and expertise reached every country in need.
In this regard, he said a proposal for a 200 million dollar Africa Solar Facility had been put forward.
Emphasising that the coming decade was vital for global climate goals, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that summit participants would play a pivotal role in connecting every country and region to the clean energy transition.
“Only then will we be able to build a Clean Future, a Green Future, and a Secure Future,” he said.
-PIB Inputs
