New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Monday, using the platform to underscore how a decade of clean energy investment has insulated India from global economic shocks.
Addressing an audience of industry leaders, investors, and international delegates — including the Ninth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance and the Fourth Conference on Green Hydrogen — Modi stated that 140 crore Indians take pride in having navigated world crises effectively while maintaining robust economic growth. He emphasized that ten years of sustained domestic investment and systemic reforms in clean energy shielded the country from severe external shocks, noting that had India not invested in clean energy, the crisis could have been much more severe.
Modi set an ambitious target of adding 500 GW of new non-fossil fuel capacity over the next 10-11 years, building on India's already-achieved nearly 300 GW. He highlighted that India fulfilled its Paris pledge of sourcing half its installed power capacity from non-fossil sources in 2025, five years ahead of schedule, and reaffirmed the COP-26 commitment of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
The Prime Minister detailed the reach of various schemes. Over 65 lakh households have adopted rooftop solar under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024, with electricity bills cut by roughly 76 percent for many and reduced to zero for lakhs of families now earning money by selling surplus power to the grid. The KUSUM scheme has provided solar irrigation to over 30 lakh farmers, saving each beneficiary nearly one lakh rupees annually. Over 44,000 government buildings are now solar-powered, saving nearly 700 crore rupees per year.
On the manufacturing front, Modi noted India's solar module capacity has grown from around 2 GW a decade ago to over 200 GW today, alongside nearly 40 GW of solar cell capacity — a transformation he linked to the success of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. The renewable energy sector has attracted over Rs 15 lakh crore ($164 billion) in investments over the past decade, including over Rs 6 lakh crore ($63 billion) in the two years since the 2024 RE-INVEST Summit, with opportunities projected to exceed Rs 20 lakh crore ($220 billion) by the end of the decade.
Modi called for innovation in round-the-clock solar models, solar-powered electric vehicle charging, and applications in the dairy and agriculture sectors. He emphasized the development of Green Energy Corridors and transmission infrastructure, noting a target of about 2 lakh crore rupees to strengthen the One Nation, One Power Grid network. He also announced a proposal for a 200 million dollar Africa Solar Facility to ensure clean energy technology and expertise reach countries in need.
Concluding his address, Modi expressed confidence that summit participants would play a pivotal role in securing the future, stating: "Only then will we be able to build a Clean Future, a Green Future, and a Secure Future."
