India is completing approximately one lakh rooftop solar installations every six days under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. He described the initiative as a mass movement helping households save on electricity bills while strengthening the country’s energy security.
Speaking during a fireside chat on the third day of the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026, Joshi said millions of households were benefiting from reduced electricity costs and earning income by selling surplus power to the grid.
Joshi highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s solar energy capacity, which has increased from 3 GW in 2014 to 172 GW.
He said rooftop solar installations were helping reduce emissions and improve energy security, particularly during peak electricity demand.
According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India’s solar module manufacturing capacity has crossed 200 GW, while solar cell manufacturing capacity has reached approximately 45 GW.
The summit brought together government representatives, industry leaders, researchers and investors to discuss clean energy partnerships, manufacturing, energy storage and grid infrastructure.
At the Next Terawatt Diplomatic Dialogue, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik highlighted the importance of international cooperation in investment, technology, implementation and capacity building.
Country sessions involving Norway, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom and France explored opportunities in hydrogen, offshore wind and financing. Several Indian states also presented their renewable energy investment plans.
The fourth International Conference on Green Hydrogen, held alongside the summit, reviewed progress under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The mission targets an annual green hydrogen production capacity of five million tonnes by 2030. Discussions covered electrolyser manufacturing, hydrogen-powered mobility, fuel cells and sustainable aviation fuels.
Other sessions examined battery manufacturing, onshore and offshore wind energy, artificial intelligence in grid forecasting and modernisation of electricity infrastructure.
The RTSE Vendor Buddy tool was launched during the event. Developed by C-STEP with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and in association with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, it helps rooftop solar vendors assess roof layouts, design 3D solar systems and generate technical drawings and bills of materials.
The summit also highlighted the need for battery energy storage, pumped storage and stronger transmission networks to support the growing share of renewable electricity.
