Bhubaneswar: India has solidified its role as a leading global force in renewable energy, achieving its highest-ever annual addition of non-fossil fuel capacity in the fiscal year 2025–26. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced that the country added 31.25 GW of non-fossil capacity this financial year, with an impressive 24.28 GW coming from solar power.
Speaking at the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025 in Puri, Odisha, the Minister also introduced a significant initiative for the state under the newly approved Utility-Led Aggregation (ULA) model—a 150,000 rooftop solar program aimed at benefiting 700,000 to 800,000 people and significantly enhancing Odisha’s path toward energy self-reliance.
India’s Record-Breaking Renewable Energy Expansion
Addressing global energy leaders, Minister Joshi emphasized that India’s clean energy journey has reached an unprecedented level. The world took nearly seven decades to install its first terawatt of renewable capacity by 2022, but the second terawatt was added in just two years by 2024. India has been a major contributor to this rapid expansion. Over the last eleven years, India’s solar capacity has surged from 2.8 GW to nearly 130 GW, representing an extraordinary increase of over 4,500 percent. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, India contributed 46 GW to global solar additions, making it the world’s third-largest contributor to solar growth after China and the United States.
Speaking at the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit 2025 in Puri, in the presence of CM Shri @MohanMOdisha ji and Deputy CM Shri @KVSinghDeo1 ji, highlighted India's historic clean energy expansion. Underscored the country's remarkable solar capacity growth, which surged from 2.8 GW… pic.twitter.com/xEQUEYHFwv
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) December 6, 2025
Joshi highlighted that India’s leadership in renewable energy is particularly noteworthy given its resource profile. Despite having the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves and being the second-largest consumer of coal, India is steadily balancing its coal usage with a strong commitment to green energy. He added that as global sustainability norms increasingly influence industrial competitiveness, India’s transition to renewable energy is vital, urgent, and strategically important for its economic progress.
Odisha’s Rising Renewable Footprint
A key announcement at the summit was the approval of the consumer-owned Utility-Led Aggregation model for rooftop solar installations in Odisha. Under this model, 150,000 rooftop solar systems, each with a capacity of 1 kW, will be established across the state. According to the Minister, this initiative will empower approximately 700,000 to 800,000 citizens, especially low-income households, by lowering electricity costs and improving access to clean energy. The project is set to become one of the largest rooftop solar programs in eastern India.
Minister Joshi noted that Odisha is already making significant strides in renewable adoption. The state currently boasts more than 3.1 GW of installed renewable capacity, which accounts for over 34 percent of its total power generation capacity. Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, 160,000 households in Odisha have applied for rooftop solar installations, over 23,000 systems have been installed, and more than 19,200 beneficiaries have received direct subsidies totaling over ₹147 crore.
He credited the rapid evolution of India’s renewable sector to the ecosystem created under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to him, this ecosystem is built on ease of doing business, increasing investor confidence, expanding infrastructure, demand-driven schemes, and strong coordination between the Centre and the States. Joshi expressed confidence that the coming decade will be transformative for Odisha, praising the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, and the people of the State for embracing clean energy and green technology.
Odisha’s Vision for a Green and Self-Reliant Future
Speaking at the summit, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that Odisha has identified its energy supply chain as a critical pillar of its development strategy. The State aims to drastically reduce dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity by 2036, ultimately emerging as a leading Green Energy State. Majhi emphasised that ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to rural areas remains one of the government’s highest priorities. To achieve this, Odisha is making large-scale investments in the energy sector to secure the future of younger generations and lay the foundation for long-term economic stability.
Majhi highlighted that India’s power landscape has undergone a fundamental transformation in the past decade. Before 2014, uninterrupted power supply for domestic, agricultural, and industrial users was a significant challenge. Frequent power cuts were common in rural areas, and even urban regions faced shortages. Lower power generation directly impacted industries, affecting production and trade. However, under the guidance of the Prime Minister and consistent policy reforms by the Ministry of Power, the situation has improved remarkably in the last eleven years. Increased demand, infrastructure upgrades, and a strong push across conventional and renewable sources have helped India move toward energy security.
I am truly honoured to have been part of the Global Energy Leaders Summit in the sacred city of Puri. The insightful deliberations with Ministers and distinguished global delegates on the theme ‘Sufficiency, Balance, and Innovation’ were immensely enriching. Under the visionary… pic.twitter.com/EHHf8PZXPo
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) December 6, 2025
The Chief Minister emphasized that energy is the backbone of any nation’s development. He stated that while power generation is essential, it is equally important to strengthen the distribution infrastructure to ensure that electricity reaches every corner of the State without interruption. Majhi also noted that thermal power currently accounts for only 51 percent of India’s electricity generation, and its share will decline further as renewable energy expands. In this context, Odisha has adopted an independent long-term strategy that aligns with India’s national target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. The State’s industrial policy identifies renewable energy as a priority sector, treating clean energy as a core domestic industry of the future.
Global Praise and Participation
Former UK Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair addressed the summit via video conferencing, congratulating Odisha for its leadership in energy transition. He remarked that a global energy transition cannot be achieved through the efforts of a single government and requires consistency across multiple governments over decades. Blair noted that the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit embodies this very spirit of continuous, collaborative effort.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, in his welcome address, highlighted that the Konark Sun Temple symbolizes India’s ancient understanding of solar energy. He emphasized Odisha’s goal of achieving transformative change in its industrial and agricultural sectors through renewable energy by 2030. By 2036, when the State celebrates its centenary, it aspires to become a leading hub for clean energy, green hydrogen production, and sustainable power generation.
🌍✨ At the Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) Puri, I had the privilege of setting forth Odisha’s vision, alongside the keynote address of Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi Ji and the gracious presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi Ji as… pic.twitter.com/H2qDtAjXze
— Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo (Modiji Ka Parivar) (@KVSinghDeo1) December 6, 2025
The summit attracted several prominent leaders and experts, including Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood, Rajasthan Power Minister Heera Lal Nagar, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Principal Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev, Tony Blair Institute Senior Energy Advisor Pierre Noël, and Prof. Anoop Singh from IIT Kanpur. The event served as a national platform for shaping India’s long-term renewable energy roadmap and strengthening collaboration between the Centre, States, and international partners.
