PM Surya Ghar Becomes Mass Movement As India Advances Solar Capacity To 172 GW

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana has evolved into a mass movement, delivering significant benefits to households while contributing to India’s energy security and renewable energy growth, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi said during a fireside chat on the third day of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026.

Highlighting the programme’s progress, Joshi said India is completing approximately one lakh rooftop solar installations every six days. He noted that the initiative is helping millions of households reduce their electricity expenses, with many achieving zero electricity bills. Households are also generating additional income by selling surplus electricity to the grid. According to the minister, rooftop solar is not only reducing carbon emissions but also strengthening the country’s energy security, particularly during peak electricity demand hours.

Joshi highlighted India’s remarkable solar energy expansion, with installed capacity increasing from approximately 3 GW in 2014 to 172 GW in 2026. He also noted that the country’s solar manufacturing ecosystem has developed considerably, with solar module manufacturing capacity crossing 200 GW and solar cell manufacturing capacity reaching approximately 45 GW.

The summit also hosted the Next Terawatt Diplomatic Dialogue, addressed by Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shri Shripad Yesso Naik. He emphasised that achieving the next terawatt of clean energy would require collaboration among countries, institutions and technology providers. Discussions focused on international partnerships, investments, technology development, implementation and capacity building.

The International Solar Alliance, CEEW and Energiva Ventures also convened a CEO Caucus to discuss the international clean energy implementation framework. Country sessions involving Norway, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and France explored opportunities for cooperation in green hydrogen, offshore wind and renewable energy financing. Several Indian states, including Karnataka, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, presented their renewable energy investment opportunities to international stakeholders.

The 4th International Conference on Green Hydrogen, organised alongside the summit, highlighted developments under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission. The mission targets an annual green hydrogen production capacity of 5 million tonnes by 2030. Discussions covered electrolyser manufacturing, hydrogen-powered mobility, fuel cell technologies and sustainable aviation fuels.

Other sessions examined India’s onshore and offshore wind development, domestic battery energy storage manufacturing and the role of artificial intelligence in improving renewable energy forecasting and grid security. A dedicated discussion also focused on increasing women’s participation in the renewable energy sector.

The summit witnessed the launch of the RTSE Vendor Buddy tool, developed by C-STEP with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and in association with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. The digital platform enables rooftop solar vendors to assess roof layouts, design three-dimensional solar systems, and generate technical drawings and bills of materials through a single workflow.

Discussions also highlighted the growing importance of battery energy storage systems, pumped storage and transmission infrastructure in maintaining grid stability as renewable energy capacity increases. The summit continues to provide a platform for policymakers, investors, manufacturers and technology companies to explore partnerships, strengthen domestic supply chains and accelerate India’s clean energy transition.