India has reached a significant milestone in its renewable energy journey, successfully installing over 400,000 solar units as part of the Prime Minister’s Kisan Surya Ghar Yojana. This initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January and approved by the government in February, aims to provide free electricity to 10 million households by promoting the adoption of rooftop solar systems.
During an event organized by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced the achievement, highlighting the rapid growth in India’s solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity. “In just the first nine months of this year, we have added over 17 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity,” Joshi reported.
Joshi praised the Kisan Surya Ghar Yojana’s impact, stating, “Just last week, we achieved 400,000 installations under this scheme. Solar power now constitutes 20% of India’s total installed power capacity, reflecting a growth rate exceeding 26% compared to the previous year.” He emphasized the collaborative vision of the ISA, urging member nations to work together to make solar energy the preferred choice globally.
As president of the ISA, Joshi called for the support of solar entrepreneurs and the mobilization of capital to expedite solar energy deployment. “Our mission is to harness solar energy for the benefit of all nations,” he stated.
The ISA, established in 2015 through a partnership between India and France, focuses on promoting clean energy solutions and supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement. The organization aims to attract $1 trillion in solar energy investments by 2030 while assisting member countries in developing low-carbon growth strategies.
Ajay Mathur, Director General of the ISA, addressed the financing challenges faced by solar projects in member nations, noting investor reluctance due to concerns over return on investment. However, he highlighted Africa as a region with promising potential for solar energy initiatives.
As countries around the world adopt similar rooftop solar policies, the ISA is actively promoting solar projects in nations such as São Tomé and Príncipe and Bangladesh, while pilot projects are also underway in Ethiopia.
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