Odisha To Roll Out 1.5 Lakh Rooftop Solar Units Under Utility-Led Model To Empower 8 Lakh Residents

Odisha is set to receive a major boost in rooftop solar adoption after the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, announced approval for installing 1.5 lakh consumer-owned rooftop solar units across the state. Speaking at the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025 in Puri, the minister said the project will follow a utility-led aggregation model and will involve 1 kW rooftop systems. The initiative is expected to benefit around 7 to 8 lakh residents, with a special focus on families from economically weaker sections.

The announcement came as the minister highlighted India’s rapid progress in renewable energy. He stated that the country has achieved its highest-ever annual non-fossil energy capacity addition, reaching 31.25 gigawatts so far in the financial year 2025–26. Solar power alone accounts for 24.28 gigawatts of this figure, underlining the central role solar energy continues to play in India’s clean energy expansion.

Joshi noted that India has become one of the key drivers of global renewable growth. He pointed out that while the world took nearly 70 years to build its first terawatt of renewable capacity, the second terawatt was added in just two years. Countries like India, he said, have been largely responsible for this faster pace. Over the last 11 years, India’s solar capacity has risen dramatically from 2.8 gigawatts to almost 130 gigawatts. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, India added 46 gigawatts of solar power, making it the world’s third-largest contributor to new solar capacity.

At the same time, the minister acknowledged the country’s ongoing dependence on fossil fuels. India holds the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves and remains the second-largest consumer of coal. However, he said the government is working to balance its coal needs with an aggressive renewable push. According to him, this transition is not just environmentally important but strategically necessary, especially as global climate-related mechanisms increasingly shape industrial competitiveness.

The Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025, held in Puri from December 5 to 7, has brought together energy leaders, policymakers, and innovators from around the world. The summit aims to strengthen collaboration and develop practical pathways to speed up India’s clean energy transition. The Odisha rooftop solar program was presented as a key example of how renewable energy growth can directly benefit households while supporting national climate and energy goals.