PM Surya Home: A Transformative Public Movement for Energy Independence

"The PM Surya Home initiative has truly evolved into a public movement, ensuring the welfare and savings of individuals, states, and the nation as a whole," remarked Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy, Education, and Consumer Affairs, Prahlad Joshi, during an informal dialogue at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026, which took place on the third day of the event.

Minister Joshi emphasized that due to the rooftop solar initiative, India is now achieving nearly 100,000 rooftop solar installations every six days. He noted that this development not only contributes to reducing emissions but also enhances India’s energy security during peak hours. Highlighting the direct benefits, he pointed out that millions of households are seeing their electricity bills drop to zero and are collectively generating substantial income by selling excess power back to the grid. He also discussed the remarkable growth of solar energy in India, which saw its installed solar capacity rise from just 3 gigawatts in 2014 to a staggering 172 gigawatts today.

In his address at the 'Next Terawatt Diplomatic Dialogue', Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Yesso Naik, stressed the need for collective collaboration among various nations, technologies, and institutions to achieve the next terawatt goal for clean energy. He sought insights from diplomats on key topics such as partnership, investment, technology, implementation, and capacity building among countries.

A parallel CEO conference hosted by the International Solar Alliance (ISA), CEW and Energeva Ventures laid out frameworks for international clean energy deployment for the coming decades. Additionally, the ISA’s high-level assembly and Ministerial Roundtable on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) further elevated the diplomatic significance of these initiatives. Sessions involving Norway, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and France reinforced bilateral ties in the sectors of hydrogen, offshore wind energy, and financing. Meanwhile, Karnataka, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh showcased their own renewable energy investment plans to a global audience.

The fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen, held alongside the BRÉ Summit and Expo 2026, highlighted the advancements made under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to achieve an annual production capacity of 5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030. Throughout the day, various sessions discussed topics such as electrolyzer manufacturing, the use of hydrogen in the transportation sector, fuel cell technologies, and sustainable aviation fuel. These discussions further solidified India’s role in transitioning to a hydrogen economy, which is pivotal for comprehensive energy transformation.

Industry leaders, researchers, manufacturers, and knowledge partners utilized this platform to explore opportunities for technological collaboration, research partnerships, and strengthening domestic supply chains.

During a full session on wind energy, discussions revolved around the development and potential of both onshore and offshore wind energy in India. A dedicated session on battery storage focused on developing gigawatt-scale manufacturing capacity domestically, while a session on renewable energy and artificial intelligence (AI) addressed how machine intelligence can enhance grid forecasting and energy security. A special policy session that focused on the involvement of women in the renewable energy sector examined how India can more effectively mobilize resources, commitment, and intent to enhance gender participation throughout the field.

In collaboration with Bloomberg Philanthropies and in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, C-STEP today launched the RTS-E Vendor Buddy Tool. This platform assists rooftop solar vendors in assessing roof layouts, designing 3D solar energy systems, and generating technical drawings and material lists efficiently within a single workflow.

India's solar manufacturing sector has witnessed remarkable expansion, with manufacturing capacity for solar modules exceeding 200 gigawatts and solar cell manufacturing capacity nearing 45 gigawatts. The country is also making strides in wind energy manufacturing, now capable of fulfilling a significant portion of the manufacturing requirements for turbine value chains domestically. The BRÉ Summit and Expo 2026 provided a platform for manufacturers, technology firms, investors, and policymakers to discuss various measures to deepen domestic and international collaborations within the clean energy manufacturing ecosystem.

As renewable energy capacity expands, energy storage and transmission infrastructure become crucial for grid stability and the reliable integration of variable renewable energy. The summit brought together technology providers, project developers, and industry stakeholders to deliberate on battery energy storage systems, pumped storage, and modernization of the grid. Efforts in both areas are creating new opportunities for investment and technological partnerships in India.