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Prime Minister says India will add another 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity over the next 10–11 years, as energy security takes centre stage amid global disruptions
India is looking to add another 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil power capacity over the next decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday.
“Over the coming 10–11 years, our effort will be to add 500 GW of new non-fossil capacity. The target is somewhat difficult, but I have faith in the capabilities of my country. That is why I say, we will do it,” PM Modi said while inaugurating the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
India has already crossed the 300 GW milestone. Its total installed non-fossil fuel capacity stood at 308.03 GW as of September 30, 2026, according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
The figure includes 299.25 GW of renewable energy capacity and 8.78 GW of nuclear power capacity. Solar power accounts for the largest share, at 171.05 GW, while wind power capacity stands at 59.20 GW.
PM Modi said India had achieved its earlier commitment to meet 50 per cent of its installed electricity capacity requirements from non-fossil fuel sources in 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 deadline.
Energy security becomes an economic priority
Linking India’s renewable energy push to the changing global economic environment, PM Modi said the crises of recent years, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the continuing West Asia conflict, had exposed the vulnerabilities of global energy supply chains.
More from Business“The global crisis has sent a clear message to every country. Energy security is directly linked to economic security. And we all know that the future of energy security lies in clean energy,” he said.
The Prime Minister argued that excessive dependence on fossil fuels would leave the global economy vulnerable to repeated disruptions, particularly because reserves of conventional fuels are limited and concentrated in a few regions.
Renewable energy, by contrast, offers countries across different regions the opportunity to develop domestic sources of power.
For India, which relies heavily on imports to meet its crude oil and natural gas requirements, expanding domestic renewable energy capacity is also a way to reduce exposure to international fuel prices and geopolitical disruptions.
Modi said India’s investments in clean energy infrastructure over the past decade had helped it manage the current global crisis better while maintaining economic growth.
“If India had not invested in clean energy and built new systems for it over the past decade, our crisis could have been much more serious than that of the rest of the world,” he said.
From solar power to household energy consumption
Citing the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, launched in February 2024, he said more than 65 lakh households had joined the rooftop solar initiative in around two years.
The scheme aims to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households by FY27. Government figures published in August 2026 put the number of beneficiary households at 51.58 lakh, indicating that the latest figure cited by Modi would need to be reconciled with the scheme’s updated official data.
He said rooftop solar adoption was helping households reduce electricity bills, with some beneficiaries generating surplus electricity and selling it to the grid.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the installation of solar systems in more than 44,000 government buildings, which he said was generating annual savings of around Rs 700 crore.
He called for greater adoption of solar power in schools, colleges, hospitals and street-lighting systems, suggesting that states and local bodies should compete to expand installations.
Modi also pitched solar-powered agriculture, saying farmers should be encouraged to install solar panels on unused land and along the boundaries of their fields.
His broader vision, he said, was to transform farmers from consumers of electricity into producers and suppliers of energy.
The Prime Minister also urged entrepreneurs to develop systems that would allow households to use rooftop solar power for cooking and charging electric vehicles.
“We must move towards a situation where a family can cook using electricity generated from solar panels installed on its own rooftop,” he said, adding that this could reduce dependence on imported cooking gas and lower household energy expenses.
Manufacturing and storage emerge as the next challenges
India’s renewable energy expansion has also created a growing opportunity for domestic manufacturers, although building a complete clean energy supply chain remains a challenge.
Modi said India’s solar module manufacturing capacity had increased from around 3 GW a decade ago to more than 200 GW.
He said the country was also expanding solar cell manufacturing and developing capabilities in other components required for clean energy infrastructure.
The next stage, however, will require greater investment in battery storage, new technologies and domestic hardware manufacturing.
Solar and wind power generation can fluctuate depending on weather conditions. This makes energy storage and transmission infrastructure essential to ensuring a reliable electricity supply.
Modi said the government was developing green energy corridors to move electricity from renewable energy-producing regions to areas with higher demand.
The Prime Minister urged researchers, startups and entrepreneurs to develop indigenous battery storage solutions, saying the sector offered significant opportunities for innovation and employment.
He said the clean energy transition could generate jobs across manufacturing, installation, servicing and transportation.
India pitches clean energy opportunities to global investors
The Prime Minister also used the summit to position India as an investment destination for international clean energy companies and financial institutions.
He said India’s policy stability, manufacturing ambitions and expanding domestic market offered opportunities for global investors.
The Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 is being held from November 2 to 5 under the theme ‘Invest. Innovate. Inspire.’
The event is expected to bring together participants from more than 130 countries, including over 40 ministers, policymakers, investors and industry leaders. More than 400 exhibitors are showcasing technologies across solar and wind power, green hydrogen, energy storage and other emerging clean energy segments.
The summit is being held alongside the ninth session of the International Solar Alliance Assembly and the fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen.
