Solar revolution driven by innovation: PM

New Delhi, Nov 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday inaugurated the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering of industry leaders, investors, startup representatives, and senior officials from India and abroad, the Prime Minister noted that this year’s summit takes place amid special circumstances dominated by global energy shocks that have underscored the vital importance of renewable energy in daily life and national development. He pointed out that the scope of this year’s event is exceptionally broad as it coincides with the Ninth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and includes delegates from the Fourth Conference on Green Hydrogen.
Observing that the global economy has weathered unprecedented disruptions ranging from the Corona pandemic to the ongoing West Asia crisis, the Prime Minister stated that 140 crore Indians take pride in how effectively the nation has managed the turmoil while maintaining high economic growth. He emphasized that ten years of sustained domestic investment and systemic reforms in clean energy shielded the country 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,” noted PM Modi.
Stating that recent global disruptions have demonstrated the direct link between energy security and economic security, the Prime Minister warned that continued over-reliance on fossil fuels will repeatedly disrupt the world economy because fossil reserves are finite and concentrated in a few regions. He contrasted this vulnerability with the boundless, universally accessible potential of clean energy. “And we all know, the future of Energy Security lies in Clean Energy,” asserted Modi.
Describing India’s 12-year clean energy journey as one defined by Promises, Passion, and Performance exemplified by its COP-26 commitment to achieve 500 Gigawatts of non-fossil capacity by 2030, the Prime Minister highlighted that the nation 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 percent non-fossil installed capacity and nearly 300 Gigawatts already achieved toward 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!” affirmed PM Modi.
Emphasizing that India wishes to share the benefits of its innovations and experiences with all of humanity, the Prime Minister stated that the nation approaches green energy with the same cooperative spirit before presenting specific examples. “The successes of India in this field will come in handy for numerous countries of the world,” remarked Modi.
Detailing the rapid progress of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana launched in February 2024 to install rooftop solar panels in one crore homes, the Prime Minister noted that over 65 lakh households have joined the movement within 24 to 25 months at a pace of one lakh new homes every six days, cutting electricity bills by roughly 76 percent according to a study and reducing bills to zero for lakhs of families who now earn money by selling surplus power to the grid. “This scheme of India can give great strength to energy security in many countries,” observed PM Modi.
Highlighting efforts over the past 12 years to integrate solar power into daily life, industry, and agriculture, the Prime Minister pointed out that connecting over 44,000 government buildings with solar energy is saving nearly 700 crore rupees annually, while the KUSUM scheme has provided solar irrigation to over 30 lakh farmers and saved each solar pump beneficiary nearly one lakh rupees every year. He also cited the PM Surya Sarovar Yojana, which installs solar panels over reservoirs, ponds, and lakes to optimize water bodies and save land acquisition costs. “India is making solar power a part of the lives of its citizens,” noted Modi.
Stating that India’s clean energy ecosystem extends beyond hydro, solar, wind, and nuclear power, the Prime Minister explained that the country is advancing in mission mode under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to produce 50 lakh tonnes of green hydrogen by the end of the decade while integrating green hydrogen into the transport sector. “Just a few months ago, India started its first Green Hydrogen Train,” noted PM Modi.
Acknowledging that power generation must be matched by efficient distribution from high-production solar and wind zones to regions with lower output so that homes, farms, and industries across the country benefit equally, the Prime Minister highlighted the development of Green Energy Corridors comprising dedicated transmission lines and substations supported by the One Nation, One Power Grid network that unified five regional grids onto a single frequency. He added that the country is now advancing to the next phase to further strengthen this transmission infrastructure. “Recently, India has set a target of an investment of about 2 lakh crore rupees for this,” observed Modi.
Attributing India’s green energy success to a dramatic surge in domestic manufacturing after years of complete import dependence for even minor solar components, the Prime Minister noted that solar module manufacturing capacity has grown 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. “Meaning, India’s ambitions related to green energy are also proof of the success of our Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign and the Make in India campaign,” asserted PM Modi.
Stressing that the nation must maintain its rapid momentum rather than resting on its laurels, the Prime Minister called for swiftly connecting every government building, school, college, hospital, and streetlight network to solar energy. He proposed fostering healthy competition among states and local bodies to incentivize top performers and enable peer learning from local success stories. “We have to do this work at a fast pace,” asserted Modi.
Offering a dedicated suggestion for expanding solar power in agriculture, the Prime Minister urged moving beyond the distribution of lakhs of solar pumps to utilizing uncultivated farm spaces. He emphasized the need to encourage farmers across maximum villages to install solar panels on vacant land as well as along farm boundary ridges. “We have to move beyond solar pumps,” remarked PM Modi.
Stating that the new era of the solar revolution relies on innovation as much as adoption, the Prime Minister urged startups, IITs, innovators, and entrepreneurs to design round-the-clock, all-weather solar models capable of meeting maximum household needs, including rooftop solar cooking to minimize reliance on imported gas and home solar charging for electric two-wheelers and cars. “Through this, middle-class families of the country can save thousands of rupees every year,” noted Modi.
Highlighting the need for specialized clean energy applications in rural allied sectors, the Prime Minister called for developing dedicated solar products to promote solar power in the dairy sector. “For animal fodder, crop harvesting, and post-harvest, solar equipment should be developed for every such work,” asserted PM Modi.
Emphasizing that achieving these goals requires next-generation innovation, indigenous storage hardware, and new battery storage capacity, the Prime Minister described this need as a massive opportunity for India’s youth and urged researchers and investors to seize the moment. “The solutions that you prepare in India will come in handy for numerous countries of the world,” affirmed Modi.
Pointing out that every clean energy initiative in one of the world’s youngest nations is generating thousands of jobs across panel and hardware manufacturing, installation, servicing, and transportation, the Prime Minister noted that further expansion of solar capacity will multiply employment opportunities across the economy. “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,” observed PM Modi.
Inviting global investors to leverage India’s unmatched demand, scale, scope, and political and policy stability, the Prime Minister noted that the renewable energy sector has attracted over 15 lakh crore rupees, or 164 billion dollars, over the past decade, including over 6 lakh crore rupees, or 63 billion dollars, in just the two years since the 2024 RE-INVEST Summit, with investment opportunities projected to exceed 20 lakh crore rupees, or 220 billion dollars, by the end of the decade. “Therefore, for all of you, a new sky of opportunities is going to open up in India’s clean energy sector,” affirmed Modi.
Recalling India’s global message of One Earth, One Family, One Future that underpins both its clean energy journey and the International Solar Alliance, the Prime Minister stated that the nation is committed to ensuring necessary funding, technology, and expertise reach every country in need. “Therefore, for Africa, a proposal for a 200 million dollar Africa Solar Facility has been put forward,” noted PM Modi.
Emphasizing that the coming decade is vital for global climate goals, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that summit participants will play a pivotal role in securing the future by connecting every country and region to this transformation before concluding with his best wishes. “Only then will we be able to build a Clean Future, a Green Future, and a Secure Future,” asserted Modi.