Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today 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.
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 Shri 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 Shri Modi.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Education and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Pralhad Joshi, highlighted India's remarkable progress in the renewable energy sector and the transformative role of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's leadership in shaping the country's energy landscape, while addressing the event.
At the outset, the Union Minister expressed his appreciation for the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, stating that he had given India's energy sector a new energy, direction and confidence.
He further highlighted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana with an outlay of more than ₹5,000 crore, under which 5,000 MW of floating solar capacity will be developed. He also noted that the Prime Minister had recently approved the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III, with an investment of ₹1.86 lakh crore.
The Union Minister stated that the ideas tested and proven in Gujarat were scaled up at the national level after Shri Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, giving India's renewable energy journey a new direction and momentum.
Highlighting India's economic growth and rising energy requirements, Shri Joshi said that India is today one of the world's fastest-growing major economies. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised India's growth forecast for 2026-27 to 7 per cent. He emphasised that this economic growth is also accompanied by increasing energy demand, which necessitates renewable energy to meet the country's requirements sustainably.
Shri Pralhad Joshi stated that in September 2024 India's non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity had crossed 200 GW. He highlighted that the capacity had since reached 310 GW, representing an addition of more than 110 GW in two years. He further stated that, under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, PM Surya Ghar had crossed 65 lakh installations, with more than one lakh installations taking place every six days.
Highlighting the investment in the RE sector, Shri Joshi said that the total investment has crossed USD 67 billion within the last two years, making it the biggest investment in any sector. He also noted that the sector had attracted USD 6.2 billion in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) over the last two years. He stated that this reflected the growing confidence of investors in the sector.
Underscoring India's progress in the renewable energy sector over the last 12 years, the Minister stated that the country's non-fossil fuel-based installed capacity had increased from 80.3 GW to more than 310 GW, registering a growth of 280 per cent. Solar capacity had risen from 2.8 GW to 171 GW, marking an increase of 5,800 per cent, while wind capacity had grown from 21 GW to 60 GW, registering a growth of 176 per cent.
He further highlighted that India's solar module manufacturing capacity had increased from 2 GW to 225 GW, registering a growth of 11,150 per cent, while solar cell manufacturing capacity had risen from zero to 45 GW. Wind turbine manufacturing capacity has also increased from 10 GW to 24 GW.
Highlighting the reduction in renewable energy costs, Shri Joshi stated that solar tariffs had declined from ₹10-11 per unit in 2011-12 to ₹2.15 per unit in 2024-25. He further noted that green hydrogen was available at ₹279/kg, the lowest price globally, while green ammonia had reached ₹49.75/kg, also the lowest price globally. Highlighting India's leadership in the global green hydrogen sector, Shri Joshi stated that India is number one in the world in green hydrogen offtake commitments.
Emphasising the scale and pace of India's achievements, the Union Minister said, "This is Scale. This is Speed. This is Aatma Nirbharta. And this is the energy of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi."
Shri Joshi stated that BRE Summit and Expo 2026 is an important platform for strengthening this investment ecosystem. He invited investors from across the world to participate in India's renewable energy journey, saying, "Invest in India. Innovate in India. Grow with India."